Apparently Irish people are slowly falling out of love – if you can call it that – with drink. Alcohol consumption in the State is at its lowest level in more than 35 years and is falling year on year. Though the stereotype of the hard-drinking Irish still endures, in reality consumption is now 31 per cent down on its peak in 2001.
It means Ireland is now about the European Union average of 9.8 litres of pure alcohol a year per person over the age of 15.
We’d like to hear from you, drinkers and non-drinkers alike. Do you drink alcohol, and if so, have your drinking habits changed in recent years? If so, or if not, why? Have you noticed a change among your friend groups or in wider society in terms of levels of alcohol consumption?
Alcohol consumption across the western world is decreasing and similar patterns have been observed in the UK, where consumption peaked in 2004 and has been declining since. The research from the Drinks Industry Group of Ireland show alcohol consumption dropped below 10 litres of pure alcohol per adult annually for the first time since 1987.
Two gardaí injured, one critical, after assault in Dublin city
Kyran Durnin case: Man with history of violence now suspect in murder investigation
The ‘Hawk Tuah girl’ went viral. You won’t believe what happened next – except, of course, you will
Pat Leahy: Smart people still insist the truth of a patent absurdity – that Gerry Adams was never in the IRA
Some will blame price increases for prompting drinkers to cut back. But booze has never been particularly cheap in Ireland. And besides, the recent research shows a shift among drinkers away from beer and towards wine, generally considered a more upmarket drink.
So price is one thing, but could the health benefits of giving up alcohol be a greater attraction? Is it an age thing – do younger generations drink less (or more)? Or is it the case that spending the weekend outdoors, on a surfboard, on a walk, up a mountain is more enjoyable than spending it in the corner of a dim lounge bar, working your way through endless rounds of pints ?
We would like to hear from you and you can share your view in the form below. A selection of responses will be used in an article.
- Sign up for push alerts and have the best news, analysis and comment delivered directly to your phone
- Join The Irish Times on WhatsApp and stay up to date
- Listen to our Inside Politics podcast for the best political chat and analysis