Hospitals to target alcohol abuse via emergency departments

FRONTLINE hospital staff are planning to tackle the problem of alcohol abuse directly with patients who attend emergency departments.

A report from the Health Research Board showed that alcohol consumption in Ireland has increased by 17% over the past 11 years, from 11.5 litres per adult in 1995 to 13.4 litres in 2006 — well above the EU average.

Alcohol-related hospital admissions increased by 88% between 1995 and 2004.