Research conducted by Dr Deirdre Mongan HRB and Prof Aiden McCormick, St. Vincents Hospital Dublin has shown a startling increase in alcoholic liver disease (ALD) between 1995 and 2009.

The study shows that there were considerable increases in ALD rates across all age groups. Notable findings include:

The mortality rate (per 100,000 population aged 15 and over) of those who died in hospital for ALD was 2.6 in 1995 and 7.5 in 2009, an increase of 188%.

There were 27,816 hospital discharges with a diagnosis of ALD between 1995 and 2009.

The rate of ALD discharges (per 100,000 population aged 15 and over) increased by 201%, from 28.3 in 1995 to 85.1 in 2009.

The increase in ALD rates was most significant in the younger age groups: 275% increase in 15-34 years, 227% increase in 35-49 years, 159% increase in 50-64 years and a 145% increase in 65+ age group.