Ireland tops European binge-drinking league

Irish people consumed more than 30 million litres of alcohol in pubs and wine bars in 2004 - amounting to seven and a half litres, or 15 pints, for every person in the country.

The figures, compiled by Datamonitor, put Ireland at the top of the European binge drinking league.

However, the trend is said to be dying out, as more people opt for home consumption.