Ireland’s average per adult alcohol consumption has continued its long-term downward trend, with the 2024 figure falling to 9.49 litres of pure alcohol per adult (LPA).
This marks a 4.5% decline compared to 2023’s 9.94 LPA, according to a new report by Anthony Foley, Emeritus Associate Professor of Economics at Dublin City University, commissioned by the Drinks Industry Group of Ireland.
Declining Trends Amid Population Growth
The overall volume of alcohol consumed in Ireland in 2024 dropped by 2.4% from the previous year. At the same time, the adult population (defined as individuals aged 15 and over) grew by 2.3%. The dual impact of lower alcohol sales and a larger adult base contributed to the per capita consumption decrease.
This decline continues a significant long-term trend. Average alcohol consumption per adult peaked in 2001 at 14.44 LPA and has since fallen by over a third (34.3%).
Beverage Breakdown: Beer Still Dominant, Wine Rises
All major beverage categories saw volume declines in 2024:
- Beer: down 1.6%
- Wine: down 2.0%
- Spirits: down 4.1%
- Cider: down 3.3%
Despite these decreases, beer remains the largest contributor to alcohol consumption by volume, accounting for 43.3% in 2024. Wine continued its rise in prominence, now making up 28.2%, up from 13.2% in 2000. Spirits and cider contributed 22.3% and 6.1% respectively.
Ireland in the EU Context
The report also includes international comparisons using OECD data for 2022. Ireland’s average per adult consumption was 10.2 LPA, below the unweighted average of 10.3 LPA across 17 EU+UK countries. Nations like Austria, Latvia, and Spain exceeded Ireland’s levels, while Denmark, Finland, and Sweden had lower figures.
Additionally, the Health Research Board’s 2024 publication ranked Ireland 16th out of 38 OECD countries for per capita alcohol consumption—lower than 14 EU countries and the UK—indicating Ireland is no longer a high-consumption outlier in Europe.
Public Health and Policy Implications
This continuing decline in per adult alcohol consumption reflects shifting consumption patterns, policy measures, and possibly growing health awareness among Irish consumers. While per capita figures remain useful for benchmarking, the report notes they don’t account for factors like unrecorded consumption or age-based consumption patterns.
As the data becomes more granular—especially with the Revenue’s new monthly classification system—policymakers and industry stakeholders will have an improved foundation for evaluating trends and designing effective alcohol policy.
Source: Drinks Industry Group of Ireland (DIGI)