Alcohol Action Ireland today note the data released by Revenue: provisional alcohol clearances and receipts 2018. This data disappointingly indicates that alcohol consumption remains stubbornly high at 11 litres per capital.
Alcohol receipts for the year ended show a 1.78% rise, however when an estimated population data for 2018 is applied (CSO: population >15 years old – 3,848.4m) the figures for consumption as a per capita, stand at 11 litres, indicative of essentially a status quo, year on year.
Within the individual sectoral breakdown, Beer consumption indicates a 2.65% increase and Spirits indicates a further 5.57% increase, year on year, which is of concern.
There has been a 21.4% rise in Spirits consumption over a five-year period, 2014-2018.
This latest data demonstrates, yet again, the long way we, as a nation, have to travel to bring our drinking patterns down within a low-risk approach to alcohol consumption.
Over 1,000 deaths per annum in Ireland are alcohol related and our public health services continue to spend in access of 12% of its budget on alcohol related illnesses and incidences. Over 200,000 children continue to live in family circumstances where alcohol is having a negative impact on their development and their lives.
Commenting on this data release, Eunan McKinney, Alcohol Action’s Head of Communications and Advocacy said:
The most optimistic perspective one can bring to this data is perhaps that the message of alcohol related harms is beginning to be understood. However, a one-year stall in an underlying rising trend does not promise too much, when 1.35 million drinkers hold a harmful relationship with alcohol and the alcohol industry continues to spend unhindered over €1 million per week in marketing promotion and sponsorship.
Source: Alcohol Action Ireland, 12/03/19
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