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The USI says it has a problem with it being funded by the drinks industry and its "muted" response to the controversy surrounding this year's Arthur's Day celebrations.
Drink Aware has hit back saying it has never hidden the fact it receives money from alcohol companies.
USI President Joe O'Connor says the decision was made a recent meeting of student bodies from across the country:
Drink Aware is a campaign supported by companies such as Diageo, C&C Group, Heineken and Irish Distillers - Pernod Ricard. It's a part of the wider group MEAS (Mature Enjoyment of Alcohol in Society Limited).
On drinkaware.ie, MEAS is described as "an independent, not-for-profit company with no commercial purpose. Our aim is to undertake initiatives to combat alcohol abuse and misuse, with specific emphasis on underage drinking, the culture of drinking to get drunk, and drink-driving. MEAS advocates moderation when drinking alcohol but does not recommend that abstaining individuals should consume alcohol to benefit their health."
Drink Aware has run many advertising and educational campaigns, while most ads for alcoholic drinks feature the Drink Aware logo and disclaimers to 'drink responsibly'.
This year, however, Diageo particularly has been subject to heavy public and media criticism. There was a major backlash to their annual Arthur's Day event, which has been criticised as a 'manufactured' celebration solely intended to promote alcohol. Christy Moore and The Waterboys released anti-Arthur's Day songs to protest the now annual event, with some commentators suggesting 'drink responsibly' disclaimers can only go so far. In a poll we ran before Arthur's Day this year, almost two-thirds of respondents said they had a problem with the event.
Despite the backlash, Arthur's Day has also proven a huge success, with many popular musicians and venues participating. Others say the blame shouldn't lie entirely with Diageo and other alcohol manufacturers, and that there are deeper social issues that need to be addressed to stop alcohol abuse in the country.
Do you believe alcohol awareness campaigns can be effective if funded by the alcohol industry? Will such campaigns only by undermined by the companies' other marketing and sales activities? Should education be independent, or is it important that the alcohol producers themselves are funding and supporting these activities? Vote in our poll and leave your comments below.
