Study finds alcohol abuse on the rise in Ireland

Nov 1, 2007, 17:32 GMT

Dublin - Alcohol consumption rose by 17 per cent in Ireland between 1995 and 2006 and this has led to an increase in alcohol- related harm, disease and deaths, Ireland's Health Research Board reported Thursday.

A total of 1,775 died from alcohol abuse during the 11-year period.

The average Irish adult consumed 13.4 litres of alcohol in 2006, up from 11.5 litres in 1995, with hospitals reporting a doubling of alcohol-related problems.

The number of people discharged from hospital after receiving treatment for alcohol-related problems rose by 90 per cent in the 1995-2004 period, while bed days due to alcohol-related illnesses more than doubled to 117,373 from 55,805, the study found.

'These figures ... are remarkable,' according to the study's lead author Dr Deirdre Mongan.

'Moreover, because (the study) does not record people attending Accident and Emergency who are not actually admitted to a hospital bed, it is fair to assume that these figures actually underestimate the pressure of problem alcohol use on acute hospital services,' she said.

The biggest increase was found in alcohol-related liver disease, with hospital discharges for the problem rising 147 per cent in the 1995-2004 period.

The study's authors also found a worrying increase in younger women presenting with alcohol-related illness.

They recommended following best international practice in tackling the problem.

'Strategies that have proved effective in reducing alcohol-related harm include alcohol taxation, regulating the physical availability of alcohol, and measures against drink-driving,' said Dr Jean Long, head of the Alcohol and Drug Research Unit at the Health Research Board.