Drinking volume and frequency down
Irish people are drinking 20% less overall than we were a decade ago, and less often, according to trade group Drinkaware.ie.
The group has launched a new campaign encouraging people to "reclaim your weekend" in the new year.
The group is hosting a dedicated ReclaimYourWeekend.ie website in partnership with Microsoft's MSN.
Spokesperson for Drink Aware, Fionnuala Sheehan says while Irish people are drinking less, we still tend to drink too much, too fast.
"We have a particular pattern and style of drinking in Ireland which isn't the best", she said.
"When we go and have our drink, we tend to take quite a lot, we tend to drink very quickly."
She said that while we do not drink daily, as is the case in some countries in Southern Europe, we drink large volumes in short periods.
Drinkaware.ie is funded by the drinks industry, and promotes the responsible use of alcohol.
