More than two-fifths of men binge drink on a typical drinking occasion such as a night out, according to a study assessing the health of the nation.
The Department of Health on Tuesday published its 2024 Healthy Ireland survey, which was conducted by polling company Ipsos B&A. Almost 7,400 people aged over 15 participated in the research.
It found that 28 per cent of people binge drink on a typical night out, up from 24 per cent last year. For men, this figure is 42 per cent while for women it is 14 per cent. Binge drinking is defined as consuming six or more drinks in one sitting.
Men aged 15 to 24 have the highest level of binge drinking at 50 per cent with this age group also having the highest prevalence among women at 26 per cent. Increases were seen among all age groups between 25 and 64.
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Kieran O’Leary, director of Ipsos B&A, said moderate alcohol consumption has not yet returned to levels seen before the Covid-19 pandemic levels. However, he said there is a “very concerning” increase in binge drinking which is “back in line” with rates seen pre-pandemic.
Prof Mary Horgan, the department’s chief medical officer, said there is a need to look at the issue of binge drinking “over a period of time”.
“We need to get a better understanding of who it’s happening to age group wise [and] where it’s happening. Is it at home? Is it pre-drinking before people go out? Or is it all outside? And then trying to developing policy to underpin the safe consumption of alcohol.”
They survey also highlighted a decrease in the numbers meeting physical activity guidelines and a reduction in the numbers eating the recommended five portions of fruit and vegetables per day.
A total of 41 per cent of people achieve the national physical activity guidelines, which recommends 150 minutes of moderate to vigorous exercise a week. Mr O’Leary said there is a “persistent gender gap in physical activity levels”.
Half of men met the recommended activity levels, but the rate fell to just 33 per cent among women. The proportion of people meeting the guidelines also declines with age.
The results also showed a rise in the number of people who reported consuming sugar-sweetened drinks at least once a week, which stood at 32 per cent this year, up from 29 per cent in 2019.
The survey found 17 per cent of the population are smokers, broadly in line with the 18 per cent recorded last year. There has been a downward trend in this area, with 23 per cent smoking in 2014. Some 8 per cent of the population currently use e-cigarettes either daily (5 per cent) or occasionally (3 per cent).
The survey, for the first time, included a question on long Covid, symptoms of the disease that continue for four or more weeks following the initial infection. Some 7 per cent of respondents reported experiencing symptoms of long Covid at some point in time, with 3 per cent receiving an official diagnosis from a doctor.
This year’s survey also examined caring, with the proportion who said they were carers rising from 9 per cent in 2019 to 14 per cent this year. A carer provides regular unpaid personal help to a friend or family member with a long-term illness, health problem or disability.
Some 17 per cent of parents said they were also caregivers, with people in this group having a higher prevalence of probable mental health problems (15 per cent) compared parents generally (12 per cent).
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