This report provides an overview of results from the second wave of the Healthy Ireland Survey, an annual interviewer administered face-to-face survey commissioned by the Department of Health.

The survey data plays a number of roles, including supporting the Department in ongoing engagement and awareness-raising activities in the various policy areas and supporting better policy development.

Some new findings in this year’s Survey results include:

• While 90% of respondents know that alcohol is a risk factor for liver disease, only 27% of women are aware of the increased risk of developing breast cancer as a result of heavy drinking
• The majority (55%) of men who drink, consume six or more standard drinks (“binge drink”) on a typical drinking occasion while fewer than 1 in 5 (18%) women drink to this level
• 18% of the population in Ireland is exposed to second-hand smoke on a daily basis

Some of the other important findings include:

• 84% of people living in Ireland say their health is very good or good although 28% indicate that they have a long-standing illness or health condition
• 23% of the population are current smokers
• 37% of drinkers indicate that they drink six or more standard drinks (“binge drinking”) on a typical drinking occasion
• While 19% of people living in Ireland smoke on a daily basis, recruitment of new smokers continues at a high rate with 20% of those aged under 25 currently smoking
• 67% of men and 39% of women aged under 25 binge drink on a typical drinking occasion
• Approximately half of the people living in Ireland have had some experience of people with mental health issues