30% suffered ‘negative consequence’ from drink
In addition, one in six have suffered the consequences from someone else’s drinking, such as family problems, property damage, or assaults.
Experts at the Health Research Board said these issues were not just those of problem drinkers, but the large swathe of people who consider themselves light or moderate drinkers.
The National Alcohol Diary Survey found that 30% of people said they had experienced negative consequences as a result of their own drinking, while 17% said they had suffered at the hands of someone else’s drinking. In terms of self-inflicted harms, the rate was highest among young people aged 18-24 (56%) and was higher among men (36%) than women (24%).
Details of the harms show:
- 20% experienced financial harm (39% among young people);
- 16% suffered health problems (25% among young people);
- 10% experienced work or study issues (26% of young people);
- 9% had domestic issues (11% of young people);
- 9% had a physical fight (18% of young people);
- 6% had been stopped by police (12% of young people).
Within the 18- to 24-year-old group, it was young men who suffered the most, with 23% having been in a physical fight and 16% stopped by police.
The clear gender difference almost disappeared when it came to people suffering the consequences of someone else’s drinking, breaking down at 18% of men and 16% of women.
The figures show that 6% of men suffered family problems, compared to 9% of women — rising to 12% of women in the 25-34 age group. Virtually the same number (5% for both men and women) had property destroyed, while 2% had suffered money problems.
Other gender differences are revealed in the type of alcohol consumed. Beer was by far the most common type of alcohol for men in all age groups (77%). This compares to wine for women aged over 25 (59%) and spirits among women aged 18-24 (60%).
While men drink more frequently and in greater quantities than women, the gap was narrower among young people. The report showed that 44% of young men exceeded their recommended weekly guidelines, along with 39% of young women.
The report said drinkers in Ireland consumed alcohol in an “unhealthy pattern” and concluded that “harmful drinking is the norm in Ireland, particularly for men and women under 35 years”. Alcohol Action Ireland called for swift implementation of the Public Health (Alcohol) Bill, covering pricing, availability and promotion of alcohol.
The Alcohol Beverage Federation of Ireland said that while overall consumption of alcohol was falling, binge-drinking was still problematic in society and said that the industry remained committed to tackling the issue.
www.hrb.ie
- More than 150,000 people — 7% of adults aged 18-75 — are dependent on alcohol.
- The dependency rate is highest (15%) among young adults aged 18-24%.
- Three quarters of all alcohol consumed is done in binge-drinking* sessions.
- One in five drinkers engaged in binge-drinking at least once a week
