Alcohol consumption plummeted by almost 20% in first three months of 2021

The 19.7% decline in the consumption of alcohol has been attributed to the closure of the hospitality sector due to Covid-19.

The amount of alcohol consumed in the first quarter of this year was down substantially on the same period in 2020.

The consumption of all types of alcohol - beer, cider, wine and spirits - fell between January and March 2021, according to the latest Revenue figures.