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23/06/2014
75% Of Alcohol Is Consumed As Part Of A Binge Session - Report
New figures published today by the Health Research Board (HRB) confirmed that Irish drinking patterns are harmful and almost one in fourteen drinkers meet criteria for dependent drinking.
The figures were captured as part of the first National Alcohol Diary Survey involving almost 6,000 people, aged 18-75 years, across Ireland during 2013.
According to Dr Graham Love, Chief Executive at the Health Research Board, said: "We are still consuming alcohol far above the HSE recommended low-risk levels. But what this report really shines a light on is the pattern of harmful drinking which raises serious concerns for public health.
"Based on the figures in the report, more than 150,000 people are dependent drinkers, more than a 1.35 million are harmful drinkers and 30% of people interviewed say that they experienced some form of harm as a result of their own drinking.
"The report also reveals we underestimate what we drink by about 60%. If this is the case, the situation is much worse than what has been presented in this report."
The report found:
• 75% of all alcohol consumed was done so as part of a binge drinking session.
• One in five (21.1%) drinkers engaged in binge drinking at least once a week.
• Almost two thirds (64.3%) of 18-24 year old drinkers who participated in the survey consumed six or more standard drinks on a typical drinking session in the last year, for example three or more pints of beer, six or more pub measures of spirits or more than 600mls of wine (a regular bottle is 750mls).
• More than half (54%) of 18-75 year old drinkers were classified as harmful drinkers which equates to 1.35 million harmful drinkers in Ireland.
"This is the first time we have had such robust, detailed evidence on Irish people's drinking habits. What is clear is we need to alter people's perceptions of their drinking. The report shows people who defined themselves as 'light or moderate drinkers' actually drank six or more standard drinks in a typical drinking occasion, which is binge drinking," said Dr Jean Long, Head of the Evidence Centre at the Health Research Board and co-author of the report.
(CD/JP)
The figures were captured as part of the first National Alcohol Diary Survey involving almost 6,000 people, aged 18-75 years, across Ireland during 2013.
According to Dr Graham Love, Chief Executive at the Health Research Board, said: "We are still consuming alcohol far above the HSE recommended low-risk levels. But what this report really shines a light on is the pattern of harmful drinking which raises serious concerns for public health.
"Based on the figures in the report, more than 150,000 people are dependent drinkers, more than a 1.35 million are harmful drinkers and 30% of people interviewed say that they experienced some form of harm as a result of their own drinking.
"The report also reveals we underestimate what we drink by about 60%. If this is the case, the situation is much worse than what has been presented in this report."
The report found:
• 75% of all alcohol consumed was done so as part of a binge drinking session.
• One in five (21.1%) drinkers engaged in binge drinking at least once a week.
• Almost two thirds (64.3%) of 18-24 year old drinkers who participated in the survey consumed six or more standard drinks on a typical drinking session in the last year, for example three or more pints of beer, six or more pub measures of spirits or more than 600mls of wine (a regular bottle is 750mls).
• More than half (54%) of 18-75 year old drinkers were classified as harmful drinkers which equates to 1.35 million harmful drinkers in Ireland.
"This is the first time we have had such robust, detailed evidence on Irish people's drinking habits. What is clear is we need to alter people's perceptions of their drinking. The report shows people who defined themselves as 'light or moderate drinkers' actually drank six or more standard drinks in a typical drinking occasion, which is binge drinking," said Dr Jean Long, Head of the Evidence Centre at the Health Research Board and co-author of the report.
(CD/JP)
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