Alcohol

Alcohol

Alcohol is a toxic, psychoactive, and addictive substance, known to cause cancer.

Why is alcohol a public health issue?

Alcohol use contributes to 3 million deaths across the world each year. Alcohol use is a contributory factor in physical and mental health problems, premature death and disability, as well as domestic violence, crime and road traffic accidents. In a statement in The Lancet journal, the World Health Organization noted that “no safe amount of alcohol consumption for cancers and health can be established".

In Ireland, there were 1,094 alcohol-related deaths in 2017, representing 4% of all deaths. In Northern Ireland, 350 alcohol-specific deaths were registered in 2021, accounting for 2% of all deaths registered. IPH has developed an all-island alcohol data repository sgnposting to sources of information on alcohol use, retail and harms in Ireland and Northern Ireland.

Addressing the harms associated with alcohol use through evidence-based prevention and treatment strategies can help to minimise its negative impact on public health and reduce health inequality.

WHO Resource for Journalists - Reporting about alcohol: a guide for journalists

Support Services

If you, or someone you know, is affected by alcohol, the following supports and services are available:

Ireland: Health Service Executive Alcohol Services and Drug and Alcohol Information Support
Northern Ireland: Drugs and Alcohol NI

Key Facts: Alcohol

Heavy episodic drinking or ‘binge drinking’ (Consuming 6+ units in one sitting)

Ireland: 40% of drinkers engaged in heavy episodic drinking at least once per month (2019/20)

Northern Ireland: 22% of adults reported heavy episodic drinking in the previous week (2019/20)

Ireland: Policy, Strategy, Legislation

In Ireland, the following policies, strategies and legislation are in place to address alcohol-related harms.

Reducing Harm, Support Recovery, A health-led response to drug and alcohol use in Ireland (2017-2025)

Public Health (Alcohol) Act - includes measures such as minimum unit pricing for alcohol and restrictions on the marketing and advertising of alcohol

Northern Ireland: Policy, Strategy, Legislation

In Northern Ireland, the following policies, strategies and legislation are in place to address alcohol-related harms.

Making Life Better. A Whole System Framework for Public Health (2013-2023)

Preventing Harm, Empowering Recovery A Strategic Framework to Tackle the Harm from Substance Use (2021-31)

Alcohol

Recent work on alcohol

IPH chairs a North South Alcohol Policy Advisory Group on behalf of the Chief Medical Officers of Ireland and Northern Ireland, which provides a forum for discussion on policy developments on the island of Ireland. The group periodically provides briefings to the North South Ministerial Council and facilitates webinars, briefings, knowledge exchanges, as well as opportunities for engagement with alcohol policy matters in Scotland, England and Wales.

The Institute is also represented on an oversight group for the Northern Ireland drug and alcohol strategy and the subgroup developing indicators linked to the strategy.

A recent example of our work includes responding to a consultation on the Sale of Alcohol Bill 2022 and giving evidence on this legislation to the Oireachtas Joint Committee on Justice.

Latest Alcohol Resources

Alcohol

Opening Statement to Joint Oireachtas Justice Committee on Sale of Alcohol Bill

Opening Statement to Joint Oireachtas Justice Committee on Sale of Alcohol Bill

Parliamentary Engagement Videos

31 Jan, 2023 - The Institute of Public Health (IPH) today appeared before the Oireachtas Joint Committee on Justice to give evidence on the Sale of Alcohol Bill 2022.Dr Helen McAvoy, IPH Director of Policy, and Dr…

Beer taps

Easy Read: Review of the New Strategic Direction for Alcohol and Drugs Phase 2 (NSD-2)

Plain language summary Reports

1 Feb, 2022 - This is an Easy Read summary of a detailed report developed by the Institute of Public Health for the Department of Health in Northern Ireland. In 2011, the Department…

Papers being signed

Submission to the Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health and Children on the Heads of the Public Health (Alcohol) Bill 2015

Parliamentary Engagement

3 Mar, 2015 - IPH welcomes the opportunity to comment on Heads of the Public Health (Alcohol) Bill. International evidence supports these regulatory…

Two hands and jigsaw peices

IPH response to the Joint Committee on Health and Children and members of the Northern Ireland Assembly on “Cross-border cooperation on healthcare”

Consultation Responses Parliamentary Engagement

1 Mar, 2012 - The Institute of Public Health in Ireland were asked to submit a paper on ‘Cross-border cooperation on healthcare’ for a joint meeting…

Alcohol Health Promotion Obesity Tobacco