Alcohol consumption in Ireland is down by almost one-third in the past two decades as average alcohol consumption continues to fall, according to a new report.
It says beer is still Ireland’s most popular drink ,with 42.9% of the market, while wine is the second most popular and on the rise with a 7.1% increase in wine consumption in 2023 compared to 2022 .
Spirits accounted for almost one quarter (22.6%) of total alcohol consumption in Ireland last year.
Alcohol consumption has fallen by 31% since 2001, and is down 1.5% in 2023 on 2022 figures.
Since the peak of 2001, the average per adult alcohol consumption has declined by 31%, according to the report authored by Economist and Associate Professor Emeritus at DCU Anthony Foley.
The report, commissioned by the Drinks Industry Group of Ireland (DIGI) to calculate the 2023 average level of consumption, showed that average per adult alcohol consumption decreased in 2023 by 1.5% (9.96 litres of pure alcohol vs 10.109 in 2022), a 31% decrease since 2001. Total consumption increased by 0.9% in 2023 in parallel with a 2.4% increase in the adult population for the same period.
The report also shows that Irish consumer trends and tastes are changing in terms of consumption habits.
A recent report from Ibec group, Drinks Ireland, reported that sales of non-alcoholic beer grew last year by 18%, as production surged by 50%, in response to rising consumer demand. The representative group’s report showed that non-alcoholic beer’s market share is now over 2%, an almost 100% increase over the last four years.
