Ireland has become the fourth heaviest drinking nation in the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development in terms of quantity of alcohol consumed, and ranked joint third for binge drinking in an analysis of 194 nations by WHO. Irish adults consume on average 11·5 L of pure alcohol per person every year, an increase of more than 100% compared with 60 years ago. Most alcohol in Ireland is now consumed at home and alcohol retailing off licences have increased by five-fold since 1990. Despite high alcohol taxes and duties, cheap alcohol is sold in many more outlets.