Alcohol consumption down 9% this year: Lobby group DIGI

Alcohol industry lobby group DIGI (the Drinks Industry Group of Ireland) has said alcohol consumption has fallen fast since the start of this year, a trend that is causing a "crisis" in the industry.

The group said today that its analysis of excise receipts from the Revenue Commissioners showed that alcohol sales fell 9% since January and are down 22% in the month of September alone, compared to the same month in 2007.