![\"Irish](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ie\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/Guinness-two-pints-640x427.jpg\")
<\/p>\nIrish consumers\u2019 alcohol consumption has nosedived for another year in what marks a continued downward trend over the past 25 years.<\/p>\n
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According to the latest figures from the Drinks Industry Group of Ireland (DIGI), Ireland\u2019s average alcohol consumption per adult fell by 2.1% last year to 9.30 litres of pure alcohol (LPA). This marks a drop of more than one third (35.6%) since consumption peaked in 2001.<\/p>\n
Beer consumption continues to fall<\/p>\n
The data has revealed that consumption habits are changing in Ireland and although beer was the most popular alcoholic drink of choice for Irish consumers last year, with a 42.1% market share, it actually experienced a 2.7% drop in total volume sales.<\/p>\n
Wine\u2019s popularity has more than doubled since 2000 and wine also remained the second most popular drink for the Irish and managed to increase its volume by 4% to give it a 29.4% market share.<\/p>\n
Similarly, spirits saw a small lift in volume of 0.2%, giving it a 22.4% share of the market and cider saw its sales volumes dip by 0.2% but maintained a 6.1% market share.<\/p>\n
Ireland is \u2018no longer an international outlier for high alcohol consumption\u2019<\/p>\n
The report follows international data showing that alcohol consumption in Ireland is well within average European levels. Out of 17 EU countries plus the UK tracked by the OECD in 2023, 10 exceeded the Irish average consumption level for that year of 9.9 LPA, while seven were below it.<\/p>\n
According to the research, Ireland\u2019s level sits just below the unweighted sample average of 10 LPA in the EU plus the UK, proving the country is no longer an international outlier for high alcohol consumption.<\/p>\n
In fact, Guinness owner Diageo made a \u20ac30 million investment in the production of its alcohol-free stout<\/a> at St. James\u2019s Gate in Dublin. Plus, the drinks company revealed plans to expand a \u20ac200 million facility in Littleconnell, Co Kildare<\/a> in a bid to more than double export and domestic capacity. Additionally, independent brewers across Ireland have also been showing concerns<\/a> over a 9.8% price hike in water charges that threatens the future of the sector.<\/p>\n Following the findings, DIGI is now seeking a 10% excise reduction in the next Budget. Describing why this should be so, a spokesperson for the association explained: \u201cIrish consumers are forced to pay one of the most punitive and unjust rates of excise tax on alcohol in the European Union.\u201d<\/p>\n \u2018Struggling\u2019<\/p>\n DIGI secretary and CEO of The Licensed Vintners Association (LVA), Donall O\u2019Keefe said that the report data clearly \u201cdemonstrates that Irish people continue to consume alcohol at levels in line with the European average\u201d. But also highlighted that, \u201cdespite this, Irish consumers are forced to pay one of the most punitive and unjust rates of excise tax on alcohol in the European Union\u201d.<\/p>\n He pointed out the unfairness of this for a country that has been thwarted with struggles and noted that \u201cthis policy increases cost pressures on both consumers and struggling small family-owned pubs and restaurants, during a prolonged period of economic turbulence. High excise rates also reduce our competitiveness in tourism and hospitality compared to our EU counterparts\u201d.<\/p>\n Pubs are important \u2018to the social fabric and wellbeing of local communities\u2019<\/p>\n To combat the declines, O\u2018Keefe said that the sector needed to \u201curge policymakers to also acknowledge the importance of pubs to the social fabric and wellbeing of local communities, particularly in rural areas where social isolation is an increasingly common reality\u201d.<\/p>\n O\u2019Keefe explained that \u201cthese are small businesses that have faced a decade of deep financial uncertainty, with Brexit, Covid, transatlantic trade disruption and geopolitical tensions combined with sharp increases in Govt-imposed costs, all compounding to drive rapidly rising cost pressures\u201d.<\/p>\n He added: \u201cWe must help rather than hinder small business. This year, we are urgently calling on the government to introduce an immediate 10% cut in excise tax in order to reduce cost pressures on small hospitality businesses around the country\u201d.<\/p>\n Related news<\/p>\n \n \n
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