There are almost twice as many deaths due to alcohol in Ireland as due to all other drugs combined.

•88 deaths every month in Ireland are directly attributable to alcohol

•Alcohol is a factor in up to one third of all deaths by unnatural causes, according to statistics from one county

•Chronic alcohol-related conditions are becoming increasingly common among young age groups. Between 2005 and 2008, 4,129 people aged under 30 were discharged from hospital with chronic diseases or conditions of the type normally seen in older people

•Alcoholic liver disease deaths almost trebled (188% increase) between 1995 and 2009

•The figures also reveal considerable increases of alcohol liver disease among younger age groups. Among 15-34 -years-olds, the rate of ALD discharges increased by 275%, while for the 35-49 age group, the rate increased by 227%. These increases suggests we are starting to see the effects of the large increases in alcohol consumption up to 2003.

•Alcohol-related admissions to acute hospitals doubled between 1995 and 2008

•Alcohol-related deaths also increased during the same period, from 3.8 deaths per 100,000 to 7.1 deaths per 100,000

•The harmful use of alcohol is especially fatal for younger age groups and alcohol is the world’s leading risk factor for death among males aged 15-59, according to the World Health Organisation (WHO)

•According to the WHO, almost 4 per cent of all deaths worldwide are attributed to alcohol. This is a greater number than deaths caused by HIV/AIDS, violence or tuberculosis

•In Ireland, between 2000 and 2004, it was estimated that 4.4 per cent of deaths were caused by alcohol. This figure includes deaths from chronic alcohol-related conditions such as alcoholic liver disease and liver cancer, and accidental and non-accidental deaths while under the influence of alcohol

•Alcohol increases the risk of developing more than 60 diseases and medical conditions, even at low levels of consumption

•Alcohol is the third leading risk factor for death and disability in the EU after tobacco and high blood pressure

•A more than 3% increase in unemployment in the EU is associated with a staggering 28% increase in deaths from alcohol use disorders, according to the WHO