This is the third national Survey of Lifestyle, Attitudes and Nutrition (SLÁN) in Ireland, conducted in 2007 using face-to-face interviews with adults aged 18 years or over, interviewed at home addresses. SLÁN 2007 follows on from two previous surveys using postal questionnaires - in 1998, involving 6,539 respondents with a 62% response rate, and in 2002, involving 5,992 respondents with a 53% response rate.

• The SLÁN 2007 main survey involved 10,364 respondents (62% response rate), with a sub-study on body size with 967 younger adults (aged 18-44 years) and a more detailed physical examination involving nurse assessment and blood and urine sampling in 1,207 adults (aged 45 years and over). The sample was representative of the general population in Ireland when compared with Census 2006 fi gures and was further weighted to match the Census for analysis. Most fi ndings were analysed by gender, age and social class categories. The results of SLÁN 2007 are compared with those of SLÁN 1998 and 2002 where possible, and with HBSC 2006 where relevant.

Alcohol and use of illicit drugs:
• Most men (85%) and women (77%) drank alcohol on some occasions. One-quarter (28%) reported excessive drinking (i.e. having 6 or more standard drinks on one occasion) in the last year. This was more common in younger respondents and those in lower social class groups.

• Comparisons with previous surveys were made, again with caution because of the changed survey methods (from self-report postal questionnaire in 1998 and 2002, to personal interview in 2007). Of those respondents who have had an alcoholic drink within the previous year, the average number of alcoholic drinks consumed in an average week across the three surveys decreased from 11 drinks (1998) to 9 (2002) to 7 (2007).

• The percentage of drivers who reported driving a car after consuming 2 or more standard drinks in the past year has also decreased from 2002 (16%) to 2007 (12%).

• There was a decrease in the percentage of respondents who reported consuming 6 or more standard drinks at least once a week, from 45% (2002) to 28% (2007). Comparable data were not available for 1998. The percentages consuming over the recommended weekly alcohol limit (21 or more units for men and 14 or more units for women) also decreased over the course of the three surveys, from 15% (1998) to 13% (2002) to 8% (2007).

• Across 5 categories of illicit drugs assessed, only marijuana was used by more than one in 100 respondents in 2007 (5% reported using marijuana in the previous year). Use of all 5 categories of drug was similar or lower in 2007 than in 1998.