Alcohol-related problems costing €2.65bn a year

ALCOHOL-RELATED problems are costing the State €2.65 billion a year but the true extent of the country’s binge drinking problems will only become apparent in 10 years’ time, an Accident and Emergency specialist has warned.

A&E consultant Eamonn Brazil believes alcohol abuse is continuing unabated.

“The problem is much the same this Christmas and, if anything, is probably slightly up on last year. It is pretty bad all the time to be honest,” he said.