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Alcohol Statistics Dashboard


Welcome to the HRB alcohol statistics dashboard

Alcohol use is the 9th leading risk factor for both deaths and disability-adjusted life years globally and is the leading risk factor among those aged 25–49 years. In Ireland, alcohol use is responsible for four deaths every day and causes many conditions, such as alcohol dependence and alcohol-related liver disease, as well as common health conditions, including cardiovascular disease and cancer.

Although a decrease in alcohol use in Ireland has been observed, alcohol continues to place a burden on society. In 2018, the Public Health (Alcohol) Act was passed in acknowledgement of our harmful drinking patterns and related harms. The HRB periodically publishes alcohol overviews to collate information about alcohol use and trends, as well as the consequences of our alcohol use and these reports contribute towards our understanding of the impact of the legislation. This dashboard supplements the overviews in providing more up-to-date information by presenting data and evidence on alcohol-related health and social harms in Ireland across multiple themes including:

  • Per capita alcohol use
  • Alcohol-related hospital discharges
  • Alcohol-related mortality
  • Alcohol-related criminal behaviour
  • Alcohol-related prescriptions
  • Treatment for alcohol use
  • Alcohol availability

The data presented here provide a snapshot of the available information and links to the original source for further details are available. More comprehensive information is available in the HRB alcohol overviews that we will continue to publish over time.

Dashboard Contents
Dataset Item Description
1 Table 1 Annual per capita alcohol use in Ireland based on Revenue breakdown of volume of alcohol sold
Figure 1 Annual per capita alcohol use in Ireland based on Revenue breakdown of volume of alcohol sold
2 Table 2 Market share of alcohol products sold based on Revenue breakdown of volume of total alcohol sold
Figure 2 Market share of alcohol products sold based on Revenue breakdown of volume of total alcohol sold
3 Table 3A Number of patients and number of prescriptions dispensed through the HSE Primary Care Reimbursement Service (PCRS) for alcohol-related medications
Table 3B Ingredient cost and total cost of alcohol-related medications dispensed through the HSE Primary Care Reimbursement Service (PCRS)
Figure 3 Number of patients prescribed alcohol-related medications through the HSE Primary Care Reimbursement Service (PCRS), 2012-2022
4 Table 4 Alcohol attributable deaths as recorded on the National Drug-Related Deaths Index (NDRDI)
Figure 4 Alcohol attributable deaths as recorded on the National Drug-Related Deaths Index (NDRDI), by sex, 2008-2017
5 Table 5 Number of cases receiving treatment for alcohol use as recorded on the National Drug Treatment Reporting System (NDTRS)
Figure 5 Number of cases receiving treatment for alcohol use as recorded on the National Drug Treatment Reporting System (NDTRS)
6 Table 6 Number of discharges from Irish hospitals with an alcohol-related diagnosis as recorded on the Hospital In-Patient Enquiry (HIPE) scheme, by sex, mean/median length of stay and number of bed days
Figure 6 Total number of discharges from Irish hospitals with an alcohol-related diagnosis as recorded on the Hospital In-Patient Enquiry (HIPE) scheme
7 Table 7 Number of admissions to psychiatric hospitals with an alcohol-related diagnosis as recorded on the National Psychiatric Inpatient Reporting System (NPIRS)
Figure 7 Number of admissions to psychiatric hospitals with an alcohol-related diagnosis, by sex, as recorded on the National Psychiatric Inpatient Reporting System (NPIRS)
8 Table 8 Number of alcohol-related crime incidents recorded on the Police Using Leading Systems Effectively (PULSE) system
Figure 8 Number of alcohol-related crime incidents recorded on the Police Using Leading Systems Effectively (PULSE) system
9 Table 9 Number of liquor licences issued/renewed annually by Revenue
Figure 9 Number of liquor licences issued/renewed annually by Revenue

Disclaimer:

The data is valid as of August 11th 2024.

Figure 1 Annual per capita alcohol use in Ireland based on Revenue breakdown of volume of alcohol sold

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Source: Revenue
Table 1: Annual per capita alcohol use in Ireland based on Revenue breakdown of volume of alcohol sold
Year Total Per Capita Consumption
199311.0
199411.1
199511.4
199612.1
199712.5
199813.1
199913.7
200014.1
200114.3
200214.2
200313.3
200413.5
200513.4
200613.4
200713.2
200812.2
200911.0
201011.6
201111.7
201211.5
201310.5
201410.8
201510.7
201611.2
201711.0
201811.0
201910.8
202010.1
20219.5
202210.2
20239.9
*‘Per capita alcohol use’ refers to the volume of pure alcohol consumed per person aged 15 years and over each year in Ireland. Ireland’s per capita alcohol consumption is calculated annually using alcohol sales data from Revenue and population estimates from the CSO.

Figure 2 Market share of alcohol products sold based on Revenue breakdown of volume of total alcohol sold

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Source: Revenue

Table 2: Market share of alcohol products sold based on Revenue breakdown of volume of total alcohol sold
BeerSpiritsWineCider
200355.418.618.18.0
200454.118.120.17.9
200554.118.220.18.1
200653.419.221.58.2
200751.419.122.47.9
200851.119.122.37.5
200951.117.623.57.7
201048.118.726.17.1
201147.119.226.67.1
201246.620.026.66.9
201346.918.427.67.1
201446.918.327.77.1
201547.018.727.76.6
201646.119.227.86.8
201745.219.927.96.9
201845.620.726.96.8
201944.920.927.46.7
202039.122.232.46.3
202140.623.629.56.3
202243.723.426.96.0
202343.022.728.35.9

Figure 3: Number of patients prescribed alcohol-related medications through the HSE Primary Care Reimbursement Service (PCRS), 2012-2022

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Source: Primary Care Reimbursement Service (PCRS)
Table 3A: Number of patients and number of prescriptions dispensed through the HSE Primary Care Reimbursement Service (PCRS) for alcohol-related medications, 2012-2022
20122013201420152016201720182019202020212022
Antabuse
Number of prescriptions6,7836,2665,2925,2265,0204,8734,8425,0704,7864,6684,635
Number of patients1,6371,5981,4011,3721,3101,2001,2151,2201,0471,0251,043
Naltrexone Hydrochloride
Number of prescriptions<53057711361375951,1291,1801,2851,257
Number of patients<51016243744191280258247218
Campral
Number of prescriptions2,4042,2322,0442,0472,2382,3042,1322,0332,2042,2632,221
Number of patients502469456460508515491454473465496
Librium
Number of prescriptions40,97636,58232,76630,87430,71429,04427,49427,76726,21225,94623,831
Number of patients13,06012,19311,29910,88610,88510,3289,98910,1839,3099,3698,738
Ethylex
Number of prescriptions--------1488113
Number of patients--------122426
Selincro
Number of prescriptions---1,7781,5801,095786886666691770
Number of patients---982686457314310214218280
Source: Primary Care Reimbursement Service (PCRS)
Table 3B: Ingredient cost and total cost of alcohol-related medications dispensed through the HSE Primary Care Reimbursement Service (PCRS), 2012–2022
20122013201420152016201720182019202020212022
Antabuse tablets – 400 mg
Ingredients cost (EUR)62,833.3358,159.9349,449.7748,203.0546,891.4045,527.7744,284.3244,243.4441,948.6840,098.4338,649.92
Total cost (EUR)106,066.49101,940.0788,047.4088,609.7387,781.4582,853.8982,916.8580,395.0874,077.6871,909.2568,871.92
Naltrexone hydrochloride tablets – 50 mg
Ingredients cost (EUR)241.441,754.752,836.893,679.775,861.365,322.4229,554.9460,416.0961,373.2166,588.0362,580.64
Total cost (EUR)264.711,918.993,119.214,070.256,777.176,205.4133,298.7566,542.9567,517.7673,646.7568,708.10
Campral tablets
Ingredients cost (EUR)97,392.8193,327.6987,528.3883,621.3888,507.9977,073.3568,423.7861,884.4668,274.8465,310.1164,927.53
Total cost (EUR)114,572.59110,245.52103,763.3999,061.04104,267.5795,432.4183,073.7175,414.5883,288.3579,534.7278,819.64
Librium capsules – 5 mg
Ingredients cost (EUR)22,863.3821,872.5720,704.6319,886.3119,807.8618,552.6416,905.8518,333.2617,120.3317,927.5416,495.86
Total cost (EUR)79,056.5277,759.2274,533.3072,901.5774,261.6769,818.9263,978.9968,173.3965,926.8268,991.7762,577.32
Librium capsules – 10 mg
Ingredients cost (EUR)94,474.8381,688.4372,331.3566,744.3966,103.7560,836.3856,311.6353,893.5249,249.7746,614.1542,927.93
Total cost (EUR)254,119.76225,064.36201,311.39189,321.22187,235.08170,881.34158,127.34153,362.38140,999.94138,159.11120,747.70
Ethylex film-coated tablets – 50 mg
Ingredients cost (EUR)––––––––256.891,317.051,867.63
Total cost (EUR)––––––––331.701,900.602,500.28
Selincro film-coated tablets – 18 mg
Ingredients cost (EUR)–––37,339.1633,605.3922,923.4014,662.7015,342.9211,261.907,913.277,832.35
Total cost (EUR)–––40,064.7036,828.0225,105.0815,550.0216,400.6212,051.028,355.778,303.78
Selincro film-coated tablets – XX mg
Ingredients cost (EUR)–––130,075.88119,824.5780,458.1756,996.7366,799.3551,572.8956,313.6263,664.56
Total cost (EUR)–––136,505.23126,724.2285,654.8460,345.3070,733.7254,517.4159,530.7967,770.98
Source: Primary Care Reimbursement Service (PCRS)
Note: The PCRS contains data on medicines dispensed to those with full eligibility for the General Medical Services (GMS) scheme (based on means testing). The GMS scheme does not include private prescriptions (i.e. prescriptions where the patient is not eligible for free or subsidised schemes) or prescriptions dispensed in hospitals.
The PCRS does not capture data in relation to diagnoses or indications for the medicines reimbursed, and therefore the information presented here should be interpreted with caution. The medications listed here are approved for the treatment of alcohol use disorder (AUD) or alcohol withdrawal, but it is not definitively known if that is what they were prescribed for in all instances.

Figure 4 Alcohol attributable deaths as recorded on the National Drug-Related Deaths Index (NDRDI), by sex, 2008-2017

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Source: National Drug-Related Deaths Index (NDRDI)
Table 4: Alcohol attributable deaths as recorded on the National Drug-Related Deaths Index (NDRDI), by sex, 2008-2017
MaleFemaleTotalPercentage of total deaths
20088142661,0803.8
20097643111,0753.8
20108072921,0993.9
20117652661,0313.6
20128492901,1393.9
20137842711,0553.6
20147762451,0213.5
20157562711,0273.4
20168653171,1823.9
20178202741,0943.6
Total8,0002,80310,8033.7

Figure 5 Number of cases receiving treatment for alcohol use as recorded on the National Drug Treatment Reporting System (NDTRS)

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Source: National Drug Treatment Reporting System (NDTRS)
Table 5: Number of cases receiving treatment for alcohol use as recorded on the National Drug Treatment Reporting System (NDTRS)
20152016201720182019202020212022
Cases with alcohol as the main problem drug7,6187,6437,3507,4647,5465,8246,8597,421
New cases3,5533,6783,5003,2303,2962,4903,0263,278
Previously treated cases3,9483,7833,6523,7053,4003,1703,5963,868
Cases with treatment status unknown117182198529850164237275
Cases with alcohol as an additional problem drug2,0791,9691,9512,0932,2522,0332,2702,469
Total cases treated for alcohol (as the main or additional problem drug)9,6979,6129,3019,5579,7987,8576,8599,890

Figure 6 Total number of discharges from Irish hospitals with an alcohol-related diagnosis as recorded on the Hospital In-Patient Enquiry (HIPE) scheme

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Source: Hospital In-Patient Enquiry (HIPE) scheme
Table 6: Number of discharges from Irish hospitals with an alcohol-related diagnosis as recorded on the Hospital In-Patient Enquiry (HIPE) scheme, by sex, mean/median length of stay and number of bed days
All personsMaleFemaleMean length of stay (days)Median length of stay (days)Number of bed days
200116,21912,1094,1106.1299,506
200218,05713,4714,5866.62119,510
200318,03513,3784,6576.52117,325
200417,97613,5054,4716.93124,836
200515,08810,9714,1177.93118,569
200617,05312,6294,4248.13138,307
200718,02413,3444,6808.03144,836
200818,40013,5794,8218.83161,016
200918,10913,2544,8558.63156,464
201017,75513,0154,7409.13160,991
201117,07812,4574,6219.43159,725
201217,22512,5524,6739.23158,074
201317,12012,3984,72210.14160,211
201417,13912,4354,7049.94159,664
201517,91713,1284,78910.84175,750
201619,39214,0635,32910.34181,229
201719,89214,3595,53310.44186,378
201818,34813,1245,22410.34177,892
201918,44513,1775,26810.64183,924
202018,30212,9425,3609.74170,181
202118,87713,4815,3969.94177,230

Figure 7 Number of admissions to psychiatric hospitals with an alcohol-related diagnosis, by sex, as recorded on the National Psychiatric Inpatient Reporting System (NPIRS)

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Source: National Psychiatric Inpatient Reporting System (NPIRS)
Table 7: Number of admissions to psychiatric hospitals with an alcohol-related diagnosis as recorded on the National Psychiatric Inpatient Reporting System (NPIRS)
20122013201420152016201720182019202020212022
Male843869796713764679660635567462471
Female518601522475496468426455391296335
Total1,3611,4701,3181,1881,2601,1471,0861,090958758806

Figure 8 Number of alcohol-related crime incidents recorded on the Police Using Leading Systems Effectively (PULSE) system

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Source: Police Using Leading Systems Effectively (PULSE) system
Table 8: Number of alcohol-related crime incidents recorded on the Police Using Leading Systems Effectively (PULSE) system
2012201320142015201620172019202020212022
Driving/being in charge of a vehicle while over the legal blood alcohol limit8,0446,7486,4776,4156,9257,3596,5625,1604,9865,527
Drunkenness8,8137,1536,5046,2736,3687,5189,9158,1008,3679,917
Liquor licensing incidents1,9021,3781,2721,078904826528302265237

Figure 9 Number of liquor licences issued or renewed annually, by licence type

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Source: Revenue
Table 9: Number of liquor licences issued or renewed annually, by licence type
20122013201420152016201720182019202020212022
Brewers for sale2445757094869399838795
Cider Manufactures612101517181720171217
Distillers88181935334557595665
Rectifiers and Compounders1615261928302735343844
Sweet makers00011323234
Manufacturers/Wholesale Chemist/Druggist00011111111
Total manufacturers5480129125176171185215196197226
Spirits Dealer255232252264268266282303312332350
Beer294299324331320308306297283293302
Wine and Sweet Dealer423403421403395381375383346391394
Spirits and wine Dealer22111111113
Total Dealers9749369989999849569649849421,0171,049
Publicans Full8,2418,4028,2908,1188,3298,0738,1347,9967,8367,7477,374
Publicans Six-Day71089767544
Publicans Early Closing00000000000
Publicans Six-Day & Early-Closing22222222222
Total publicans8,2508,4148,3008,1298,3388,0818,1368,0057,8437,7537,380
Spirit Retailer Special Restaurant Renewal390393415416477475476498483514493
Restricted Licence Conversion00000000010
Wine Retailer On Licences1,7631,8562,0102,1532,3032,3882,3292,3502,2292,4302,333
Total spirit/wine on-licences/restaurants2,1532,2492,4252,5692,7802,8632,8052,8482,7122,9452,826
Spirit Retailers Off Licence1,6691,7461,7671,7821,9371,9271,9771,9902,1702,1122,271
Beer Retailer Off Licence1,6821,7561,7881,7961,9541,9461,9962,0042,1822,1262,283
Cider and Perry Off Licences610867546557
Wine Retailer Off Licence 3,3243,3703,4073,3283,4353,3673,4123,3243,5203,4913,580
Total off-licences6,6816,8826,9706,9127,3337,2457,3897,3247,8777,7348,141
Passenger Aircraft398446386411527496640545310128645
Passenger Vessels2628322933283033253832
National Concert Hall00011111102
Pre 1960 Hotel Licence Conversion00000000000
Railway Restaurant Cars514949496101452348124
Producer's Retails Off Licence0000001191112
Producer's Retails On-Licence00000001151212
Special Restaurant Fee3828303429392134132531
National Conference Centre00011111111
Total - other liquor513551497525597666698668377263859