Quiz: How much do you know about alcohol?

In Ireland a standard drink has about 10 grams of pure alcohol in it. Learn more about standard drinks here.

While there is no safe level of alcohol consumption the low risk weekly guidelines for adults are up to 11 standard drinks in a week for women and up to 17 standard drinks in a week for men. Drinks should be spaced out over the week, with two to three alcohol free days per week.

While all of the above could be considered dangerous behaviour, the HSE defines hazardous drinking as drinking more than the low risk levels of alcohol consumption. The low risk levels are up to 11 standard drinks in a week for women and up to 17 standard drinks in a week for men. According to the HSE, harmful drinking is when a person drinks over the low risk weekly amount and has experienced mental or physical health problems directly related to alcohol.

Binge drinking is drinking at least six standard drinks on one drinking occasion and is especially dangerous to your health and wellbeing. Drinks should be spaced out over the week, not consumed in one sitting. Learn more about binge drinking here.

In 2018 each Irish person over the age of 15 consumed 11.01 litres of pure alcohol on average. This is a decrease on the 2001 figure which was 14.3 litres. The World Health Organisation says that Ireland had the second highest rate of binge drinking in the world in 2014. Learn more about alcohol here.

Gin has the highest concentration of alcohol. It is usually over 35% alcohol by volume (ABV). Wine is usually between 9% and 14% ABV unless it is fortified. Beer, cider and alcopops are usually between 3% and 6% ABV, although can be higher. You can read the ABV on the bottle or can. If you are in a bar it is usually on the beer tap, on the drinks menu or you can ask the bar staff.

Even one drink can impair driving. By law, learner drivers, novice drivers and professional drivers can legally have up to 20 mg blood alcohol concentration. Other drivers can have up to 50 mg of blood alcohol concentration. However, any alcohol in your blood can affect your driving. Read more about drink driving here.

Chronic alcohol-related conditions are becoming increasingly common among young age groups. Alcoholic liver disease (ALD) rates are increasing rapidly in Ireland and the greatest level of increase is among 15-to-34-year-olds, who historically had the lowest rates of liver disease.

Every day in Ireland 1,500 hospital beds are occupied by people with alcohol related problems.

According to the World Health Organisation the risk of suicide increases by eight when someone is currently abusing alcohol. Learn more about alcohol and mental health here.