'One third' of adults binge drink

Almost a third of adults have confessed to binge drinking, according to new research.

A study carried out by the Division of Population Health Sciences in the Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland (RCSI) as part of SLÁN 2007 - the National Survey of Lifestyle Attitudes and Nutrition - reveals that 28 per cent of Irish adults have admitted to drinking six or more standard drinks on one occasion at least once a week.

In addition, 10 per cent of drinkers reported drinking in excess of the recommended weekly limit of 14 units for women and 21 units for men.

Both binge drinking and drinking over the recommended weekly limit was more common among younger people, the study found.

It also shows that those who engage in excessive drinking were much more likely to have got in a fight and/or an accident in the previous year.

Among young male drinkers aged between 18 to 29 years, a quarter felt they should cut down on the amount they drank and 33 per cent regretted something they had done whilst under the influence of alcohol.

"Alcohol misuse remains high in Ireland, particularly among young men and women. Those who drink more than the weekly guideline amount put themselves at increased risk of harm of due to their own drinking and the drinking of others," said SLÁN 2007 project manager Dr Karen Morgan.

SLÁN 2007 was conducted by a team of researchers from RCSI, ESRI, NUIG & UCC.

The results of the survey were published as part of RCSI's annual Research Day, which is taking place today.

Additional research published at the event shows that 27 per cent of Irish people currently smoke with the highest incidence of smoking among the unemployed.

Among those in employment, the prevalence of smoking was highest among craft and trade workers with 39 per cent of male and 45 per cent of female workers smoking.