Guest blog by Dr Frank Houghton, Director of Social Sciences ConneXions, Technological University of the Shannon

Alcohol represents a clear threat to health and well-being both in Ireland and globally. Alcohol is the cause of 8% of all deaths in Ireland and, according to the World Health Organisation (WHO), responsible for the deaths of over 2.5 million people annually throughout the world. Although alcohol consumption in Ireland is not yet back at the levels seen at the height of the Celtic Tiger, in 2023 problem alcohol use here reached its highest levels in over a decade. Alcohol-related deaths are only the tip of the iceberg. The wider negative impacts of alcohol include high levels of morbidity, hospitalisations, road traffic incidents, assaults, domestic violence, suicide, and homicide...