As the countdown to Poznan begins, Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade Eamon Gilmore today joined drinkaware.ie and the FAI to launch the Euro 2012 Survival Guide.
Developed by drinkaware.ie in collaboration with the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, the Euro 2012 Survival Guide is packed full of useful tips on travelling safely to and in Poland, including important advice from the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade on the European Health Insurance Card, local currency, what to do in an emergency and contacts for the local Irish Embassy should you find yourself in need of assistance. Also included is practical advice on public transport options in Poland, the polish toll system for those driving to the games, responsible drinking advice from drinkaware.ie and tips on staying sun safe from DocMorris Pharmacy.
Launching the guide, which was produced in collaboration with the Consular Service of his Department, the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade Eamon Gilmore T.D. said, “We will have a consular assistance service available in both Poznan and Gdansk for the duration of stage one of the championship. The Euro 2012 Survival Guide is full of tips on how to stay safe while supporting the boys in green in Poland but – just in case – it contains emergency numbers for those who find themselves in need of our help. This is a useful opportunity to remind everyone travelling to check their passport is valid for the full duration of their planned stay, and to obtain travel and medical insurance prior to travel”.
drinkaware.ie Chief Executive Fionnuala Sheehan said, “conscious of the thousands of Irish soccer fans expected to travel to Poland this June, we have sought to develop a specific Euro 2012 Survival Guide to help fans make the most of their time in Poland, while staying safe. This Guide has been developed on the back of the success of last year’s drinkaware.ie Holiday Survival Guide which was also developed in collaboration with the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade. In addition to being available for download on the drinkaware.ie website, we will also be printing over 15,000 copies of the Euro 2012 Survival Guide. The Guide will be available to Irish fans in Irish airports and on board Irish Ferries in the run up to June”.
Speaking at the launch, FAI Chief Executive, John Delaney said, “In preparation for the EUROs this summer, we have been working very closely with the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade to help them plan for the massive numbers of supporters expected to travel. drinkaware.ie’s EURO 2012 survival guide will very useful for fans with plenty of tips to keep them safe and healthy while enjoying a great summer of football”.
The drinkaware.ie Euro 2012 Survival Guide has plenty of useful hints and tips such as:
Leave your contact details and travel plans with someone at home and also register your plans with the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade by logging onto www.dfa.ie.
Take note of the polish laws about alcohol – public drunkenness is frowned upon in Poland and treated harshly. Drinking in public areas is against the law. There is also a zero tolerance of drink driving in Poland. If you’re injured while under the influence of drugs or alcohol your insurance almost certainly won’t cover you.
The European Health Insurance Card (EHIC) entitles you to free emergency medical treatment in the EU and is readily accepted in Poland. However if you don’t have it, many Polish A&E departments in public hospitals may not accept private membership cards and may require cash.
Email yourself a document with all your important details: photocopy of your passport and ID, emergency contact numbers, prescription for medication and anything you may need during your travels. Ingenious and easy!
Foreign measures of alcohol are usually larger than Irish ones, which means two vodka ‘n’ cokes may be more like five at home – pace yourself and drinks plenty of water between drinks.
Choose the right sun protection factor for your skin type – don’t even think about anything less that factor 15. Stay out of the sun from 11am to 3pm.
Press Office
30 April 2012
Note for Editors
The drinkaware.ie responsible drinking programme was developed in 2006 by MEAS (Mature Enjoyment of Alcohol in Ireland Limited), a registered charity. MEAS was established in 2002 by the alcohol manufacturers, distributors and licensed trade associations in Ireland as an independent not for profit company with no commercial purpose.
The drinkaware.ie programme is supported by a commitment from the drinks industry, given in the context of the 2005/2006 Irish Government sponsored social partnership initiative on alcohol.
The aim of the drinkaware.ie programme is to promote responsibility when drinking and to challenge anti-social behaviour related to excessive drinking. It addresses all consumers while specifically targeting 18- to 24-year-olds, with a bulls-eye of 22-year-olds.
A broad range of partners support the programme, including a number of government bodies and agencies, student representative bodies, NGOs, college health services, on-trade retailers, drinks companies, supermarkets and most other off-trade outlets, insurance companies, public transport companies, sports organisations, utility companies, entertainment companies and the media industry.
The Euro 2012 Survival Guide is the latest in drinkaware.ie’s successful survival guide series. It follows the drinkaware.ie Holiday Survival Guide, Christmas Survival Guide, Leaving Cert Survival Guide, Student Survival Guide, Festival Survival Guide, Alcohol Sport & You Guide and Alcohol: A Guide for Parents. All guides can be downloaded free from www.drinkaware.ie
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION: FIONNUALA SHEEHAN TEL. 01 6114811 / 086-8351445