Alcohol Action Ireland press release, Monday, 2 March 2026
Alcohol Action Ireland (AAI) chairperson Prof Frank Murray (Consultant and chairperson of the European Health Alliance on Alcohol) will be at the European Parliament tomorrow (Tuesday 3 March) to speak at the launch of a new wide-ranging report from Movendi on binge drinking, its acute consequences and lasting impacts.
The report (which will be available here on 3 March), which reviews international research on binge drinking, outlines how binge drinking is the fundamental building block of most alcohol-caused medical, social and economic problems and that while the major contribution to road crashes, violence and poisoning (i.e., acute effects) is widely understood, the enduring effects of binge drinking on dementia, alcohol dependence and chronic disease in later life are largely overlooked. The prevalence of binge drinking is also largely underestimated, while among people who drink within moderate levels on average (one or two drinks per day), the majority also engage in occasional binge drinking.
AAI CEO Dr Sheila Gilheany said: “Health harm from alcohol is caused not only by the amount of alcohol consumed over months and years, but also patterns of drinking such as binge drinking. A majority of drinkers in Ireland consume alcohol in a manner that is risky to their health. In fact, Ireland has the second highest level of binge drinking across the OECD, while the Health Research Board (HRB) reports that binge drinking among low- to moderate-risk drinkers accounts for most alcohol-related harm in Ireland.
“One of the main areas of concern is young people’s binge drinking. Youth drinking in Ireland has surged by 12% over the past decade, from 66% in 2016 to 78% in 2025, and we now have a situation where young drinkers aged 15–24 make up the largest proportion of the population consuming alcohol – 78% – significantly higher than the national average (71%). Worryingly, 64% of this cohort regularly binge drink and one in three young drinkers has an Alcohol Use Disorder, while it is estimated that more than 43,000 young people aged 15-24 are living with alcohol dependence in Ireland. The Movendi report outlines how for young people, binge drinking can disrupt brain development and increase the likelihood of developing an alcohol use disorder, chronic diseases or dementia later in life.
“The Movendi report also outlines how harms to children are highly associated with the drinking behaviour of their caregivers. In Ireland, we know that one in three children has at least one parent who is either a binge drinker or alcohol dependent and in many incidences alcohol use is the catalyst to significant domestic disruption and abuse. The link between alcohol and sexual violence is also highlighted in the report, which states that sexual aggression usually from males toward females is enhanced and increased by alcohol, especially binge drinking.
“Binge drinking among women of childbearing age can increase the likelihood of the foetus being exposed to high blood alcohol levels on one or more occasions which carries significant risk of lifelong consequences such as foetal alcohol spectrum disorders (FASD). With the impact of binge drinking on cancer and liver disease both also highlighted in the report, it is one more reason why government should never have delayed the introduction of alcohol health information labels, which told people of the risks from consuming alcohol for cancer, liver disease and during pregnancy.”
Fortunately, the report points to many effective strategies that can reduce binge drinking and resulting harm in the general population. Examples of effective population-level policies include higher alcohol taxes, minimum unit pricing, restrictions on sales hours, reduced outlet density, marketing limits, minimum drinking age laws, drink-driving enforcement, and liability laws for serving intoxicated patrons.
Dr Gilheany continued: “The World Health Organization identifies that interventions on affordability, advertising and availability of alcohol are the most effective public policy measures that governments can take to offset at least some of the harm caused by alcohol.
“Ireland’s Public Health (Alcohol) Act (PHAA) incorporates these measures, in addition to a range of other measures such as labelling, all of which are designed to work in tandem to reduce overall alcohol consumption and therefore also binge drinking. However, seven years after being signed into law, not all measures of the PHAA are operational. Furthermore, important regulations are being undermined by the loophole of advertising of zero-alcohol products.
“At the same time, Minimum Unit Pricing, which sets the lowest price an alcoholic drink can be legally sold at, has not been increased. Its current value was first proposed in 2013 and has not changed since its implementation in 2022 so its public health benefit is being eroded by inflation.
“If this government really wants to reduce binge drinking and achieve a level of alcohol reduction that will improve public health, reduce injuries and deaths, and save the health system and taxpayer money, then all sections of the PHAA must be made operational in tandem, and any loopholes closed as a matter of urgency.”
Prof Frank Murray said: “Binge drinking is a key risk factor for the two major types of harmful outcomes from alcohol. The short-term harms of binge drinking include unintentional injuries and deaths, interpersonal violence and social problems including child abuse and neglect, and crimes such as vandalism and assault. The longer-term outcomes include many chronic illnesses such as cirrhosis and liver failure, tumours, heart attacks, strokes, diabetes and dementia.
“Adolescents and young adults are especially susceptible to harmful outcomes of binge drinking, and we have failed as a society to protect them. Most individuals with an alcohol use disorder binge drinks. Inability to stop drinking after two drinks is one of the earliest signs of a developing alcohol use disorder. The majority of alcohol consumption in Ireland is part of a binge.
“There are evidence-based proven policies available to reduce binge drinking, especially around affordability, availability and advertising of alcohol. It is our responsibility as a society to protect our citizens from the harms of alcohol. I would exhort the Government to implement these policies to reduce the frequency of binge drinking and its harmful consequences in Ireland. In particular, it is important to increase the MUP to overcome the impact of inflation.”
Rebecka Oberg, European Policy Officer, Movendi Sweden said: “Binge drinking drives a large share of alcohol harm in Europe. Effective alcohol policy can and should prevent these harms and better protect people’s health and well-being.”
ENDS
