In a Word... Drink
That's more than a 1 per cent drop for every year of this century, to date. What a falling off is there. It's embarrassing, really, and not just the fall, but its precipitous nature.
Last year alcohol consumption in Ireland fell by an alarming 4.5 per cent compared to 2023. The
Cliffs of Moher
are not as sheer as that!
Ireland is no longer a high alcohol consumption country, by EU/OECD standards. Another myth bites the dust. The `drunken Irishman', where are you now? With O'Leary in the grave?
READ MORE
This sudden sobriety is probably worthy of celebration. But with what? Water? Sparkling?
The trend in abstemiousness is led by our younger generations, who are far less likely to reach for the bottle than those older. A report by Red C last April showed that 21 per cent of Irish 18 to 24 year olds drink `often', compared with 31 per cent of all adults.
What worries me about this is where it might lead. Just look at the damage non-drinkers are doing and have done to this world.
Donald Trump, for instance. Would the world not be a better place had he drank a bit, even developed an alcohol problem, in his youth? It is unlikely he would have entered politics then and who would now say that wouldn't have been a good thing?
Speaking of polls and alcohol, a recent favourite found that the Japanese drink little red wine and suffer fewer heart attacks than the British or Americans.
It also found that, while the Italians drink excessive amounts of red wine, they too suffer less heart attacks than the British or Americans and that, though the Germans drink excessive amounts of beer, they have less heart attacks than the British or Americans.
Its conclusion: drink what you like. It's speaking English that kills you.
Drink, from Old English drinc, drync,
for `beverage'.
inaword@irishtimes.com
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