Local ‘a luxury many can no longer afford’
A nationwide survey has found a “massive transition” in drinking attitudes as people forsake the atmosphere of the pub and either drink at home or entertain themselves in other ways.
The study by research company, Behaviour & Attitudes found in 2002, 42% of Irish adults were heading to the pub once or twice a week and a further 4% were going three or more times a week. A further 10% would go once a fortnight, while 8% would go at least every four weeks. Only 35% of those surveyed either did not go or went less than once a month.
Fast-forward to 2013 and the pattern has changed completely. B&A found just 21% of people went to the pub once a week or more. The numbers going to the local once a fortnight increased to 12%, 2% more than in 2002. The numbers going less than once or month or not at all shot up to 56%.
B&A also surveyed the country’s home-drinking habits and found that, in 2002, 24% were having a drink at home more than once a week. By 2010, that had risen to 33%. Surprisingly it had fallen to 25% by 2013.
Pre-drinking — drinking at home before going to the pub — is still extremely popular, particularly among younger drinkers. Overall &staying at home to have a drink was most popular with adults between the ages of 25 and 49. However, it said pre-drinking before the pub is now intrinsic to younger drinkers’ going out plans.
Over 50% of 18- to 24-year-olds will either pre-drink always or occasionally before going out. For 25- to 34-year-olds, the percentage of occasional or frequent pre-drinkers is 34%. From that age on the percentage drops dramatically to 10% for 35- to 49-year-olds and a negligible percentage for all age groups older than that.
B&A found that, overall, people felt pubs had become too dear. It pointed out that at some stages the average bottle of beer is 70c-80c in the supermarket and €3.50-plus in the pub.
It said the slowdown in the transition from pub to off-licence slowed because:
* Some (particularly men) really miss the pub and have started to go back;
* The really hot weather over the summer gave the pubs a natural lift;
* There is only so much socialising one can do at home.
“The slowdown in the on-to-off pattern is explained to an extent then by a possible economic upturn,” said B&A director Larry Ryan.
