Alcohol consumption in Ireland has fallen once again, according to the Revenue Commissioners.
New data shows that sales of cider and beer, in particular, have been impacted.
The sale of each category of alcohol has decreased since the onset of the Covid pandemic, with total sales down by over 10% in the last two years.
For the first nine months of 2021, compared to the same period in 2020, beer sales dropped by 3.6%, while cider went down by 11.8%.
The sale of spirits dropped by 0.4%, while wine took the largest hit in this period with a decrease of 13.0%.
Comparing the data from 2021 to that of 2019, spirits sales dropped by 0.8% while wine dropped by 1.4%.
This time, cider sales decreased by 20.3%, while beer went down by 17.8%.
In a statement, Revenue said the sales of beer and cider have been particularly impacted by restrictions outlined by the government in a bid to curb the spread of Covid-19.
They added that the closing of and ongoing measures in pubs, restaurants and bars has meant a decrease in the sale and purchase of these alcoholic beverages.
Director of Drinks Ireland, Patricia Callan, said: “This data shows the long-term trend in falling alcohol consumption continuing, but that fall has been exacerbated by the pandemic and the shuttering of and ongoing restrictions on the hospitality sector.
“Having endured the strictest lockdown in Europe, it is hardly surprising to see this dramatic fall.
“The fall is even more dramatic in the context of alarmist and erroneous claims at various times in the last two years that alcohol consumption was rising or even soaring – it simply was not.”
This comes as alcohol prices are set to rise in the New Year , with a set or ‘floor price’ to be introduced.
The set price will mean that alcohol cannot be legally sold under a minimum price, which will be 10c per gram of alcohol.
