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

Alcohol
• Three-quarters have drunk alcohol in the past year, with over half (55%) of drinkers drinking at least once a week
• 37% of drinkers report that they drink six or more standard drinks (binge drinking) on a typical drinking occasion
• 54% of drinkers who also smoke binge drink on a typical drinking occasion, compared with 33% of non-smokers who drink
• 8% of drinkers have failed to do what was normally expected from them in the past 12 months because of drinking

Smoking
• 20% are current smokers. 17% smoke daily and 3% smoke occasionally
• Prevalence of smoking has declined from 23% in 2015 to 20% in 2018
• 44% of all who have smoked in the past 12 months have made an attempt to quit during that period
• Over half of smokers (57%) are at least thinking about quitting, and 40% of current smokers have made an attempt to quit in the past 12 months
• Most of those who have made an attempt to quit smoking in the past 12 months did so due to concerns about their health