The amount of alcohol consumed by Irish adults has fallen by 7% in the last 5 years. That does seem to echo the lamentations of Irish publicans who now seem to be spending a lot of their time demanding government funding for schemes to funnel more people into pubs while putting up the price of a pint every time a glass breaks.
I for one am glad to see the amount of alcohol consumed in Ireland falling, I'm sure most people not working in the pub trade probably are glad. Still I was actually surprised at the figures quoted in the story.
The internet tells me that 13.48 litres equals 23.72 pints. Maybe I've read that wrong but over the space of a year 23.72 pints amounts to less than one pint a week? Less than 2 pints a month? I think someone must be fiddling the Revenue books if they think the average consumption is less than 2 pints a month. The story reads like a press release from the Drinks Industry Group of Ireland (DIGI) so I suspect its a case of "lies, damn lies and statistics".
I for one am glad to see the amount of alcohol consumed in Ireland falling, I'm sure most people not working in the pub trade probably are glad. Still I was actually surprised at the figures quoted in the story.
In 2001, 14.45 litres of alcohol were consumed per adult (defined as 15 years and older), while in 2006 that figure reduced to 13.48 litres.
Figures were based on information supplied by the Revenue Commissioners and the Central Statistics Office (CSO).
The internet tells me that 13.48 litres equals 23.72 pints. Maybe I've read that wrong but over the space of a year 23.72 pints amounts to less than one pint a week? Less than 2 pints a month? I think someone must be fiddling the Revenue books if they think the average consumption is less than 2 pints a month. The story reads like a press release from the Drinks Industry Group of Ireland (DIGI) so I suspect its a case of "lies, damn lies and statistics".
3 comments:
It might be the amount of pure alcohol each person consumes. So 23.72 pints of alcohol in average 4% Beer gives you... ummm... 593 pints a year (11.4 a week). This is if they are just drinking beer for the year. There is also those higher % drinks, wine and shoots!
Does that make more sense?
Dear God! I was only off the JD for a few weeks while I was on antibiotics!!!
I'll have to be sure to drink excessively at the weekend to make up that missing %age :)
Sorry about causing the panic.
Its all them non drinkers bringing down the average. It would be interesting to see what the average is with non drinkers left out of the equation!
Post a Comment