Doctors have attacked the upcoming Arthur's Day event organised by Diageo to promote Guinness, saying that with high rates of alcohol abuse and liver disease, this country does not need another campaign promoting alcohol consumption.

The Royal College of Physicians of Ireland (RCPI) is hosting a public meeting tomorrow evening, "Join the national conversation on alcohol; who's calling the shots?"

The RCPI says the event, which takes place in the run up to Arthur's Day on Thursday, will provoke discussion around the dark side of our relationship with alcohol - abusive alcohol consumption and underage drinking. It will also consider the alternatives to binge drinking.

The public meeting takes place tomorrow, Monday, September 23, at 6pm in the RCPI premises, 6 Kildare Street, Dublin.

Prof Frank Murray, Chair of the Royal College of Physicians of Ireland's Policy Group on Alcohol said with high rates of alcohol consumption and binge drinking, we don't need another reason to drink.

"The effects of this relationship are seen in the emergency departments and liver units of our hospitals. One in four emergency department attendances are alcohol-related."

The public meeting is free of charge and will include a Q&A session.

To register for the TCPI event, log onto www.rcpi.ie.

Meanwhile,Youth website SpunOut.ie has called calling on music acts appearing at Diageo’s Arthur’s Day events around the country to donate their fees to charities working with young people and adults suffering from alcohol related harm.