On 7 March 2017, Minister of State for Health Promotion Marcella Corcoran Kennedy TD launched the Health Service Executive’s (HSE) new website on alcohol – AskAboutAlcohol.ie. The website was created to provide clear and authoritative information on alcohol to the public, and is the first dedicated website dealing with alcohol to be created by a State body. It provides advice on low-risk drinking limits and detailed evidence on the mental and physical impacts of alcohol. It also contains a drinks calculator so the public can understand exactly how much they are drinking and whether it is within low-risk limits. There is also information on available supports and guidance for anyone who wants to cut back on their drinking and for those with a family member who drinks excessively.

At the launch, Minister Corcoran Kennedy spoke about the evidence in relation to high-alcohol consumption and harm in Ireland and described AskAboutAlcohol.ie and the information campaign as ‘an important first step in enabling people to manage their own drinking … simple yet effective tools like the drinks calculator will empower people to assess their drinking habits and make informed choices to improve their health and wellbeing’. This was reiterated by Dr Stephanie O’Keeffe, HSE National Director for Health and Wellbeing, who said that many Irish people remained unaware their drinking may have fallen into harmful patterns, and that underestimation of amounts consumed remains a prominent trend among young people in particular.

AskAboutAlcohol.ie is also designed to work in tandem with public health legislation and planned regulatory changes on alcohol labelling, availability and pricing. The launch of the website has been complemented by a public information campaign through the media and online. Leaflets exploring how alcohol impacts different individuals and societal groups will be released shortly.