Sales of beer, wine, cider all on the rise

Alcohol consumption levels increased last year, driven by hikes in wine and beer sales, provisional figures show.

It comes as Dr Ciara Kelly, the only public health doctor on the board of a new Diageo-funded alcohol awareness campaign, stepped down — just three weeks after the group was launched.

While critics of the group said it undermined the credibility of the Stop Out-of-Control Drinking campaign, a spokesman for the body said her departure was due to “time constraints” faced by the GP.

New figures, revealed by Alcohol Action Ireland, indicate that, per capita, alcohol consumption rose to 11 litres last year, up 2.5% on 2013.

The analysis is based on CSO population data and provisional consumption statistics compiled by the Revenue Commissioners. The latter shows:

- 4% rise in beer consumption compared to 2013 — with 18.8m litres of pure alcohol consumed in 2014;

- 0.9% drop in spirits — with 7.2m litres consumed;

- 6.9% increase in wine — with 85.4m litres of liquid (not pure) litres;

- 0.4% rise in cider consumption — with 62.4m litres of liquid litres.

Alcohol Action Ireland said when standard alcohol purity volumes are applied to wine and cider — 12.5% and 4.5% respectively — it translates to 10.7m litres of wine and 2.8m litres of cider.

Sales of beer, wine, cider all on the rise

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