Pat Rabbitte and others who blame social media for the "neknominate" binge-drinking phenomenon are missing the point.
Drink-to-get-drunk culture in Ireland existed long before Facebook or Twitter came along, and our toxic relationship with alcohol will continue until enough of us call time on our behaviour.
In much the same way that it is futile to blame websites like Ask.fm for the suicides of bullied teenagers, we need to look beyond the bravado of those Facebook video posts.
We must confront the fact that as a nation with a dependence on alcohol for generations, there should be no surprise at the neknomination phenomenon.
Rather than indulge in a moral panic, we should ask what it is about us Irish that has made us glory in alcohol abuse since the first dram of poitin was distilled centuries ago.
Why were the excesses of celebrities like Brendan Behan celebrated over the years, and why did elected leaders like Bertie Ahern see nothing wrong with bringing visiting dignitaries to pubs for photo opportunities involving pints of Guinness?
When alcohol is so all-consuming in Irish culture, is it any wonder that teenagers or those in their first full flush of adulthood would see nothing wrong with a drinking game that would be considered reckless in any country that takes a decidedly less tolerant attitude to drinking?
Source: John Meagher, Irish Independent, 04/02/14
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