Healthy Ireland report shows Irish drink more, smoking remains same

DUBLIN, Ireland: The Irish are drinking more while smoking levels remain unchanged, according to a just-released government report, entitled Healthy Ireland 2022.

In compiling the report, some 7,455 people aged 15 and over were interviewed about their health.

Among the findings, it was learned that 13 percent of the public is drinking more than before the pandemic.

Also, 32 percent of those contacted were classified as binge drinkers, compared to 22 percent one year earlier.

While binge drinking is defined as consuming six or more drinks in a session - it remains less than found in 2018, when it was at 37 percent.

The survey also reported that 18 percent of the public continues smoking. This is the first year since 2015 that smoking rates did not drop.

Still, the number of people reporting that they smoke every day has fallen to 14 percent, having risen to 16 percent during the pandemic.

Additionally, those most likely to smoke are aged 25 to 34, with nearly 25 percent of this age group smoking. Also, 21 percent of men report being smokers, while 15 percent of women smoke.

The study also found that over half of those surveyed reported themselves to be overweight.