The economic recovery saw an increase in the per capita consumption of alcohol in Ireland last year, according to the Health Minister Leo Varadkar.
Provisional figures from last year show that consumption per capita increased from 10.6 litres in 2013 to 11 litres in 2014. Speaking in the Seanad this evening, Varadkar said this was “probably related to the upturn in the economy”.
“If so, it is a matter of real concern as it indicates that without policy change, as people have more money in their pockets, they are likely to drink more of it,” he said.
In a speech on alcohol awareness in the upper house this evening, Varadkar said that Ireland has a “serious problem” when it comes to alcohol consumption and outlined the measures the government is taking to tackle the issue.
"We drink too much overall and binge drink a lot. In spite of what we might like to think, alcohol is not abused by a small minority of individuals – the majority of people who drink do so in a harmful way".
Source: Hugh O'Connell, The Journal, 13/05/15
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