Alcohol Action Ireland press release, Thursday 17 April, 2025
With gardai and first responders gearing up for another busy bank holiday weekend, which are known to be associated with increased alcohol consumption and therefore with increased drink driving, road collisions and alcohol-related emergency department presentations, AAI is calling on government to tackle problematic drinking patterns around key events such as public holidays, large sports events and festivals as a key strategy for reducing alcohol harms.
Alcohol-related harm is determined not just by the volume of alcohol consumed but also the pattern of drinking, with HRB research indicating that more than half of all who drink are classified as hazardous drinkers. While the impact of public holidays on the health service and drink driving is widely recognised, what is less well known is their impact on areas such as suicides and self-harm, violent crime and domestic, sexual and gender-based violence (DSGBV).
In its latest report, Seasonality of Alcohol Consumption and Associated Harms, AAI brings together national and international evidence on the annual variation of alcohol consumption and the knock-on effects on public health, hospitals and emergency departments, crime and violence, drink driving and road traffic collisions, suicide and self-harm, and DSGBV.
AAI CEO Dr Sheila Gilheany said: “Alcohol consumption in the population is found to vary through the months of the year, with increased consumption, including sporadic heavy drinking occasions, occurring during holidays, festivals, large sports events and public holidays. Despite recent reductions in alcohol consumption volumes in the State, drinking levels and patterns remain problematic, especially when measured against modest government and HSE targets.
“In Ireland, research has shown alcohol consumption to be most strongly associated with the Christmas holiday period, including New Year’s Eve and Day, St. Patrick’s Day, and Easter Sunday. The reason the seasonality of alcohol use is important is because we know the risk of alcohol related harm increases with increased consumption. Government needs to be cognisant of the seasonal dynamics of alcohol consumption to accordingly and consistently direct public health and emergency care strategies to prevent or minimize alcohol related harm.
“A key strategy in this regard is Section 12 of the Public Health (Alcohol) Act 2018. This groundbreaking section mandates that health information must appear on alcohol products through labelling and on notices in licensed premises. The labels are intended to inform the public of the very real risks associated with alcohol consumption and their introduction, due in May 2026, has recently been called into question by the Minister for Finance, much to the dismay of public health experts here and internationally. There simply can be no backtracking by government on such an important issue.”
Some of the findings in the report include:
- Gardaí usually receive about 1,200 calls regarding domestic violence each week but this number spikes to around 1,600 calls over public holidays.
- Self-harm presentations during public holidays have a 24% increased risk of involving alcohol consumption compared to all other days and this is most pronounced during the Christmas period.
- As Gardaí consistently point to increased incidents of drink driving during public holidays, one in 10 Irish motorists have driven after consuming alcohol in the last 12 months and Ireland has one of the lowest levels of roadside breath testing in the EU.
Dr Gilheany continued: “With the seasonality in alcohol consumption having such a knock-on effect across a wide range of areas, alcohol must be included in government strategies aimed at tackling issues such as domestic, sexual, and gender-based violence and suicide and self-harm reduction, to name but two. Additionally, instead of the piecemeal approach that currently exists, there is a clear need for a cross-governmental strategy on alcohol which includes actions on reducing alcohol consumption such as online alcohol advertising, enforcement of existing measures, as well as providing for the necessary services to address the harms arising from alcohol.”
Donna Price, founder and chairperson, Irish Road Victims’ Association (IRVA) said: “IRVA is very concerned that driving while impaired by alcohol continues to be one of the main contributory causes of road traffic collisions, taking the lives of too many of our loved ones every year, and leaving so many more with serious life altering injury. The lives of all of these families have been utterly destroyed forever, and their communities have been impacted all around the country.
“This, despite all of our efforts to raise awareness of the dangers of driving while intoxicated. We appeal to all road users to use our roads responsibly. Drink driving is completely socially unacceptable and you cannot endanger others! Even one standard unit of alcohol has been scientifically proven to impair driving, and the message really must be that you cannot drink alcohol and drive.
“If you do intend to have a drink, please leave the car at home and use alternative means of transport or a designated driver. No drink is worth endangering your life, or that of other innocent road users! Let’s all get home safely to our families.”
ENDS
