Matrix Diagnostics

Matrix News

Alcohol is embedded in Irish national identity

A report into the drinking habits of the Irish has concluded that drinking is embedded in Irish national identity. Based on this finding, it is very likely that the same is true for England.

The study was funded by the Irish Department of Health and carried out by the Health Research Board. In the study almost 6,000 people provided details of their drinking habits.

The study found that 37% of respondents admitted to binge drinking at least once a month. Binge drinking is defined as drinking six or more drinks in a single session.

Over 50% of the people taking part in the survey were classified as ‘harmful drinkers’ by international standards, meaning that their drinking habits are likely to lead to significant health problems.

Subjects in the study were aged from 18 to 75 years and each kept a drinking diary for four months from July until October 2013.

Based on the findings, the researchers estimate that there are around 1.4 million harmful drinkers in the Republic of Ireland. A majority of the binge drinking was done by young men between the age of 18 and 24 years.

The Health Research Board’s chief executive, Graham Love, explained the complex role of alcohol in Irish culture: “Its use has become embedded in our national identity and it is often associated with significant cultural and religious events.”

Mr Love went on to talk about how widespread alcohol abuse has led to a “huge burden of health and social harm, not just on those who drink but on their families, friends and colleagues”.

We often talk about the addictive properties of drugs and alcohol and blame this for determining actions, but drinking does appear to be very much entrenched in culture. Until this changes, it is hard to see how alcohol abuse can be reduced.

Please Get In Touch

  • This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.