Service providers have an important role to play in recording data that can be used to monitor and evaluate sexual violence in Ireland. 1 Given the prevalence of alcohol in sexual violence in Ireland, collecting data in relation to alcohol consumption and attitudes towards alcohol and sex is of considerable importance to ensure effective sexual violence reduction policies and programmes.

Why is data in relation to alcohol involvement in sexual violence important?
• Data on alcohol involvement in sexual violence in Ireland is essential to understand the scope and extent of the problem.
• Data can be used to petition for targeted prevention programmes and policies.
• Adequate and appropriate data collection allows service providers to monitor trends in relation to alcohol consumption in incidents of sexual violence and thus to tailor programmes and evaluate the services’ effectiveness.