I can't speak for Ireland but certainly here in Scotland there's a lot of drunkenness in town centres on Friday and Saturday nights. There are a lot of quiet, normally well behaved people who turn into loudmouthed arrogant nuisances once they are under the influence. People who work hard all week play hard when they finish for the weekend. The only time I ever get any hassle is if I'm out alone in a town or city kilted late on a Friday or Saturday night, when drunks either ask the question or shout some comment about the kilt. Though here in Scotland, at least 95% of the shouted comments will be positive. The very occasional negative doesn't bother me - its just someone expressing their feelings of bitterness and jealousy because they've squandered all their money on booze and can't afford a kilt for themselves.