Binge drinking has rocketed among teens and adults since the Covid lockdowns, a government report has revealed.
The latest Healthy Ireland Survey shows that the number of binge drinkers has nearly doubled, shooting up by almost 50 per cent. Last year it was estimated that 22 per cent of people were binge drinking, more than one in five.
But that worsened this year with practically one in three people, or 32 per cent, now considered binge drinkers, according to the Healthy Ireland survey. The Department of Health’s latest report on the nation’s health also looked at other health indicators, like obesity, exercise, smoking prevalence, weight and mental health.
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The numbers smoking has remained relatively static, with 18 per cent addicted to the weed, the same as last year. On alcohol, the report states: “32 per cent of those who consumed alcohol in the previous six months are considered binge drinkers.
“This is higher than was measured in 2021 (22 per cent), but remains behind the levels of binge drinking measured in 2018 (37 per cent).
“This means that 22 per cent of the total population aged over 15 are categorised as binge drinkers, compared with 20 per cent in 2021, and 28 per cent in 2018.”
The data was gleaned from a survey of over 7,500 people from last November to July this year.
Public Health Minister Frank Feighan, who launched the report alongside new Chief Medical Officer Prof Breda Smyth, said: “The Healthy Ireland Survey is a vital part of the information we collect on how people across Ireland are doing in terms of their health and wellbeing.
“We have been running the survey each year since 2015.
“The data gathered since then gives us a great opportunity to look at how some key health behaviours, such as smoking, are changing over time.”
Professor Smyth added: “I would really encourage smokers to visit the HSE’s Quit website for advice and support for quitting smoking.
“Similarly, the HSE’s Ask About Alcohol website has lots of helpful information and resources for anyone concerned about alcohol and other drugs, including advice for parents on how to raise these topics with their children.”
The report concluded:
- 67 per cent of people have consumed alcohol in the previous six months, a one per cent rise, with 15 to 34-year-olds the most likely,
- Gender differences in alcohol consumption are small, with men (69 per cent) slightly more likely than women (65 per cent) to have drank alcohol in the six months prior,
- Roughly half (52 per cent) who had alcohol in the previous six months said they drank at least once a week, with a further 32 per cent drinking multiple times a week.
- Men drink more frequently than women; 36 per cent of them drink alcohol more than once a week, compared to 27 per cent of women and
- There has been a decline in drinking frequency among 35 to 44-year-olds in the past 12 months.
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