Alcohol misuse remains a major public health concern in Ireland. Despite recent efforts to reduce harmful drinking, alcoholism rates in Ireland continue to be amongst the highest in Europe. Almost four in ten people engage in heavy drinking at least once a month, and more than one in five do so weekly.
Younger adults and men are particularly at risk, with binge drinking patterns far more common in these groups. These figures highlight how alcohol use, while widespread and often normalised, poses serious health and social risks across the country.
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The Scale of Alcoholism Rates in Ireland
Alcohol use is an important risk factor for health conditions and mortality worldwide. Ireland has one of the highest per capita, or per person, rates of alcohol consumption within the European Union (EU). Many people consuming alcohol in Ireland do so in a hazardous way, with almost 40% of people engaging in monthly heavy drinking episodes, and over 20% doing this every week.1
The 2023 Healthy Ireland Survey found that:
- 73% of Irish men consumed alcohol, compared to 67% of women
- 1 in 5 people drank alcohol more than once per week
- Men were more likely to binge drink than women (37% versus 12%, respectively)
- Younger people, aged 15–24 years, were more likely to binge drink than older people, aged 75 years and over (36% versus 7%, respectively)
This information highlights that alcohol consumption is common in Ireland, and that drinking patterns often involve regular, frequent consumption. Men and younger people have been found to have greater binge drinking tendencies.2
A reduction in alcohol use has been observed in recent years. However, alcoholism rates in Ireland continue to present significant health and social challenges across the country. In fact, incidents relating to drunkenness were at their highest rate in ten years in 2022, with almost 10,000 incidents recorded that year. Heavy episodic drinking rates have also increased in 2024 to the highest rate since 2017.3
Between 2008 and 2017, over 10,000 people died in Ireland as a result of alcohol consumption. In Northern Ireland, alcohol-attributed deaths rose by 45.9% between 2012 and 2022. Almost two in three deaths in 2022 were men. Local deprivation appears to influence death rates in different areas of Northern Ireland. The percentage of alcohol-related deaths in the most deprived areas was more than three times higher than in the least deprived areas.3,4
Across Ireland in 2023, over 8,000 people received treatment for problematic alcohol use. Just over 44% of these were new cases. Problematic alcohol use, or alcohol misuse, carries various short and long-term risks to your health and social well-being. Loss of control over your alcohol use is known as dependent drinking, or alcohol addiction.3,5
Alcohol use and hazardous consumption are projected to increase over the next decade in Ireland. If you, or someone you know, may be experiencing the effects of alcohol misuse or addiction, it’s never too late to seek help.6
Treatment for Alcohol Use in Ireland
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Reducing Alcohol-Related Harm
As a result of harmful drinking patterns and high alcoholism rates in Ireland, the Public Health (Alcohol) Act was passed in 2018. This policy introduced measures such as minimum unit pricing, advertising restrictions and health label requirements to help mitigate harmful drinking in Ireland.1,3
A recent study showed that over 90% of respondents living in Ireland were aware that alcohol causes an increased risk of liver disease, depression and accidental injury. The vast majority of these respondents supported policy measures like warning labels and a ban on advertising alcohol near schools.1
If you are concerned about your own or a loved one’s alcohol consumption, the first step is identifying a potential problem.
Ask yourself the following questions:
- Do I need to cut down?
- Have others been criticising my drinking?
- Do I feel bad or guilty about drinking?
- Do I need a drink first thing in the morning?
If you answered “yes” to two or more of these questions, this may suggest you are misusing alcohol.5,7
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What Are the Next Steps?
If you or a loved one is concerned about alcoholism rates in Ireland, and how your alcohol use may be impacting your lives, please consider Smarmore Castle for comprehensive and evidence-based treatment.
At Smarmore Castle, we are dedicated to providing each patient with evidence-based treatments based on their unique needs and circumstances. Based in County Louth, near Dublin, we are a family-run, residential rehabilitation hospital that can support you in managing drug and alcohol addictions.
Our team consists of experienced addiction specialists and therapists who deliver tailored treatments and round-the-clock care to help you maintain recovery from addiction. We offer programmes that are tailored uniquely to your own personal needs. Treatment will include detoxification, medical and psychological therapies and complementary therapies, like meditation, which are components of our holistic approach.
Why Choose Smarmore Castle?
- Over 10 years helping people just like you
- Accredited by CHKS and ISO 9001 for quality and safety
- Family-run clinic where you’re treated as a person, not a number
- Medically led with 24/7 detox and therapy support
- Comfortable, private rooms in peaceful rural surroundings
- Trusted by VHI Insurance and the HSE
Begin Your Recovery From Alcohol Use Today
Self-Help Resources Near You
If you are looking for free local support groups, Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) provide regular, weekly meetings all across Ireland. Find a location near you and access support today. We recommend that you seek help and advice from a GP, particularly if your symptoms are serious or life-threatening.
Frequently Asked Questions
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How do Ireland’s alcohol consumption rates compare to other countries?
In terms of per capita alcohol use rates, Ireland has one of the highest in the EU.1
World Health Organization (WHO) data shows that the three-year average per capita consumption rate was 10.2 litres of pure alcohol in 2022. This is slightly higher than the UK average for the same time period, which was 10.1 litres of pure alcohol.8
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Is alcohol consumption in Ireland declining?
Although there have been reductions in recent years, alcohol consumption levels in Ireland are predicted to increase over the next decade.1,3
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What is binge drinking and how common is it?
Binge drinking is defined as the consumption of more than 8 units of alcohol (for men) and more than 6 units (for women) in one session. This translates to 4 pints of average-strength beer for men and 3 for women. This heavy drinking pattern can lead to negative consequences, like health risks, accidents or injuries.9
37% of men and 12% of women reported binge drinking in the 2023 Healthy Ireland Survey.2
Find out more about binge drinking and how it differs from alcohol addiction on our dedicated blog page here.
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What health risks are associated with alcohol misuse and addiction?
Consuming more than the recommended low-risk drinking guidelines, or alcohol misuse, can lead to significant health and social consequences. In the long term, alcohol misuse increases your risk of liver and bowel cancer and damages the brain. Regular alcohol misuse can also lead to addiction, a condition involving a loss of control over alcohol use.
Alcohol addiction is a chronic health condition that can significantly impact a person’s quality of life, well-being and physical and mental health.5
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References
- Calnan S, Millar SR, Mongan D. Support for evidence-based alcohol policy in Ireland: results from a representative household survey. Eur J Public Health. 2023;33(2): 323–30. doi: 10.1093/eurpub/ckad031.
- Gov.ie. Healthy Ireland Survey 2023. [Accessed August 2025].
- Health Research Board (HRB). Alcohol Statistics Dashboard. [Accessed August 2025].
- O’Dwyer C, et al. Drinking patterns and the distribution of alcohol-related harms in Ireland: evidence for the prevention paradox. BMC Public Health. 2019;19: 1323. doi: 10.1186/s12889-019-7666-4.
- National Health Service (NHS). Alcohol misuse: Overview. [Accessed August 2025].
- Northern Ireland Statistics and Research Agency (NISRA). Alcohol-Specific Deaths in Northern Ireland, 2012 to 2022 (PDF). [Accessed August 2025].
- WebMD. What’s the CAGE Assessment? [Accessed August 2025].
- World Health Organization (WHO). Alcohol, recorded per capita (15+) consumption (in litres of pure alcohol), three-year average. [Accessed August 2025].
- Drinkaware. Binge drinking. [Accessed August 2025].
