Background

In 2022, there were 17,512 discharges from Irish hospitals for wholly alcohol-related diagnoses, according to the Hospital In-Patient Enquiry (HIPE) scheme, indicating that alcohol is a common reason for hospital admission.1 The mean length of stay for alcohol-related hospitalisations nationally is 9.9 days, increasing from 6.1 days in 2001, and almost double that of non-alcohol-related conditions (5.7 days), and representing 5.2% of all inpatient bed days.2 This does not include emergency department (ED) presentations as they are not routinely collected in Ireland. However, a study carried out in Beaumont Hospital in Dublin found that 19.4% of ED presentations were alcohol-related.3

Background

The Ballymun Community Alcohol Strategy, part of the Ballymun Local Drugs and Alcohol Task Force (LDATF), aims to use a public health approach to reduce alcohol-related risk to the community’s health, safety, and well-being. One of the objectives of the strategy is to monitor alcohol use, behaviours, and attitudes through surveys. The most recent survey was conducted by IPSOS B&A in 2023 and updates those carried out in 2011, 2015, and 2019, and examines what, if anything, has changed.1

Methods

A representative sample of the adult population (aged 15 years or greater) of Ballymun in Dublin was surveyed in August–September 2023 to examine alcohol use trends, relevant community issues, and the policy context.