Just in time for St. Patty's

The front page story on the Irish Indo's site today stated that Ireland is implementing a new, lower legal limit for blood alcohol content for Irish drivers. As an American reading the story it seemed very timely, what with St. Patrick's day celebrations looming on the horizon this weekend and the city of Chicago preparing to dye the river green. This legislation is a subtle reminder that not all Irish folks are falling-over drunks. Granted those Irish that do drink consume more than the average American per sitting, but that doesn't mean they are all drunks. St. Patrick's day as a holiday is really an American invention. In Ireland, up until recently, it was always a solemn occasion that included a trip to Church. In America, we put green dye in already terrible American macro-brewed beer and claim to be Irish, if not for a few hours. Who, then, is more responsible? The Irish who are taking proactive measures to increase responsibility and accountability for people who drink in their country, or Americans (generally aged 18-30) that view St. Patrick's day as a time to get black-out drunk for the sake of "being Irish." The disconnect between Ireland and Irish-America is shocking at times. Unfortunately, without more Irish historians in America to dispel these myths, change is not on the horizon, unlike that pint of green beer this weekend....