We're drinking less and less every year.

Crushed Dry Ice

Since 2001 the consumption of alcohol in Ireland has steadily declined. I attribute this decline to increasing levels of confidence in Ireland. I believe there is a level of correlation between levels of confidence and self esteem and alcohol consumption. While I still believe we are a relatively insecure people on average, I feel we are significantly less so than 2001.

http://www.irishtimes.com/news/irish-alcohol-consumption-drops-1.1320490

Plazaman

Not mine, I have maintained a consistant level of drinking since 2001 thus keeping a lot of bar workers employed and ensuring those nice people at Carlsberg have jobs. #doingmybitfordanishirishrelations

Man on Fire

People just dont have the money to gargle

Duggy747

Or that it's gotten expensive as fùck to go out and drink every weekend in the pubs n' clubs.

Solair

There's an element of demographics to it too.

There was a large baby boom in the late 70s and into the early to mid 80s. Those people were in their heaviest drinking late teens / early 20s in 2000-2005.

They're all now rather more sensible !

Couple that with the economic crash and you'll also remove a lot of the hard partying that used to go on as there isn't the money floating around to the same degree.

I think there's also a social change happening too. It's just gradually becoming less socially acceptable too.

1ZRed

Wait for it, the lads who constantly bitch about or "crazy and disgraceful" drinking habits will be replaced by guys who are disappointed we let it all go and offer up tips to regain our alco title

seamus

It's to do with the increasing age of the baby boomers. 2000/2001 was when the first of children of the baby boom of the 70s and 80s started settling down and having children. Which means less drinking. As time goes on, people get older, have more kids == even less drinking.

The biggest decreases in drinking volumes will be over the next few years, followed by a levelling out, followed by an increase starting in the early 2020s as the children of the current baby boom come into their late teens and go mad.

Of course the media at that stage will shriek shrill about our binge drinking culture and how the generation of today are out-of-control degenerates.

Crushed Dry Ice

Man on Fire wrote: »

People just dont have the money to gargle

So why did people drink less in 2005 than 2001?

BraziliaNZ

I'm getting progressively worse . I don't affect the stats though as I'm not in Ireland.

666irishguy

I've always thought the idea of binge drinking madness is in part something our media saw was a hot topic in the UK and lazily imported (as usual) over here. The fact that the biggest drop seems to be from 2007-2012 seems to point out that the biggest factor is the economy, though the drop prior to the crash is possibly related to the fact that people had became more aspirational and shifted their purchasing habits toward buying cars, fancy goods etc instead of boozing lavishly. I'd bet the number of full on alcoholics has increased noticeably.

Reekwind

Crushed Dry Ice wrote: »

I attribute this decline to increasing levels of confidence in Ireland. I believe there is a level of correlation between levels of confidence and self esteem and alcohol consumption

So national confidence actually skyrocketed during the recession?

Legs.Eleven

Solair wrote: »

There's an element of demographics to it too.

There was a large baby boom in the late 70s and into the early to mid 80s. Those people were in their heaviest drinking late teens / early 20s in 2000-2005.

They're all now rather more sensible !

Couple that with the economic crash and you'll also remove a lot of the hard partying that used to go on as there isn't the money floating around to the same degree.

I think there's also a social change happening too. It's just gradually becoming less socially acceptable too.

This is exactly why. Whatever the reason, it's good news in my book.



Just out of curiosity, why do you think we've more confidence now, OP? What signs have you seen?

Tazz T

Don't be telling the government. They're in 'scare tactic' mode about our drinking in the run-up to minimum pricing. You'll ruin their plans.

Legs.Eleven

Reekwind wrote: »

So national confidence actually skyrocketed during the recession?

...which doesn't make any sense. During the good times, we believed we were unstoppable. Surely it follows that we would've had more self-confidence as a nation when possibilities seemed endless and there were opportunities for self-development? Speaking on behalf of myself (a baby-boomer born in 1980), although I feel my self-esteem is higher, I believe it's more to do with my age (although it's not through the roof). My self-confidence and what I believe I'll be able to do with my life, on the other hand, has taken a serious knocking with this recession. I fear for my long-term future.

This hasn't driven me to the drink. I drink a lot less now because I drank my fill in the 20s and have calmed down simply with age. The hangovers are worse, being pissed has lost its sheen and although I drink every weekend, I take it fairly handy now just cos I've been there done that.


I think it's simply down to the fact that the large glut of baby-boomers that were in their early 20s in the early 00s have grown up.

Crushed Dry Ice

Reekwind wrote: »

So national confidence actually skyrocketed during the recession?

It's not the only factor, far from it IMO, demographics probably plays a significant role and yes Indo believe people in Ireland now are significantly more confident than 2001.

Legs.Eleven

Crushed Dry Ice wrote: »

It's not the only factor, far from it IMO, demographics probably plays a significant role and yes Indo believe people in Ireland now are significantly more confident than 2001.

Indo shmindo. That's the opinion of one of their dodgy journalists. What do you think? And why?

topper75

Solair wrote: »

There's an element of demographics to it too.

There was a large baby boom in the late 70s and into the early to mid 80s. Those people were in their heaviest drinking late teens / early 20s in 2000-2005.

They're all now rather more sensible !

Too right. I was glad to get out of the pub game when I did and my new venture, Pipe&Slippers'RUs, is going a treat.

Crushed Dry Ice

Legs.Eleven wrote: »

...which doesn't make any sense. During the good times, we believed we were unstoppable. Surely it follows that we would've had more self-confidence as a nation when possibilities seemed endless and there were opportunities for self-development? Speaking on behalf of myself (a baby-boomer born in 1980), although I feel my self-esteem is higher, I believe it's more to do with my age (although it's not through the roof). My self-confidence and what I believe I'll be able to do with my life, on the other hand, has taken a serious knocking with this recession. I fear for my long-term future.

This hasn't driven me to the drink. I drink a lot less now because I drank my fill in the 20s and have calmed down simply with age. The hangovers are worse, being pissed has lost its sheen and although I drink every weekend, I take it fairly handy now just cos I've been there done that.


I think it's simply down to the fact that the large glut of baby-boomers that were in their early 20s in the early 00s have grown up.

People have less social anxiety now than in 2001 to be more specifics, my opinion of course.

Legs.Eleven

Crushed Dry Ice wrote: »

People have less social anxiety now than in 2001 to be more specifics, my opinion of course.

How can you prove that? What evidence are you going on?



Not to have a go at you but I'm curious how you formed that opinion.

Crushed Dry Ice

Legs.Eleven wrote: »

Indo shmindo. That's the opinion of one of their dodgy journalists. What do you think? And why?

Meant I do not Indo.

Crushed Dry Ice

Legs.Eleven wrote: »

How can you prove that? What evidence are you going on?



Not to have a go at you but I'm curious how you formed that opinion.

I can't prove it, just basing it on my personal perception. In 2001 I felt people in Ireland were more stifled and anxious socially than now.

Legs.Eleven

Crushed Dry Ice wrote: »

I can't prove it, just basing it on my personal perception. In 2001 I felt people in Ireland were more stifled and anxious socially than now.

Can I ask you how old you were in 2001?

Legs.Eleven

Crushed Dry Ice wrote: »

Meant I do not Indo.

Hmmm. I don't understand.

sbsquarepants

Crushed Dry Ice wrote: »

Since 2001 the consumption of alcohol in Ireland has steadily declined. I attribute this decline to increasing levels of confidence in Ireland. I believe there is a level of correlation between levels of confidence and self esteem and alcohol consumption. While I still believe we are a relatively insecure people on average, I feel we are significantly less so than 2001.

http://www.irishtimes.com/news/irish-alcohol-consumption-drops-1.1320490

That's nonsense - people are drinking less because it's fúcking daylight robbery to go out to the pub these days. Why exactly would the country falling apart at the seams lead to a rise in the levels of confidence?

Crushed Dry Ice

Legs.Eleven wrote: »

Can I ask you how old you were in 2001?

I see where you're going and you may have a point. I was 16 in 2001 and 28 now so it stands to reason that my peers would have been more socially anxious in 2001 than 2013.

I do still maintain people generally are more confident now but obviously that's based on human perception which can be flawed.

I'm drinking more now than I was 5 years ago in undergrad so them figures don't really apply to me.

beertons

What's this we business.

gramar

For every action there's an equal and opposite reaction so if we're drinking less what are we doing more of?

Crushed Dry Ice

gramar wrote: »

For every action there's an equal and opposite reaction so if we're drinking less what are we doing more of?

I don't think Sir Isaac Newton had alcohol in mind when he came up with that law.

sbsquarepants

Crushed Dry Ice wrote: »

I see where you're going and you may have a point. I was 16 in 2001 and 28 now so it stands to reason that my peers would have been more socially anxious in 2001 than 2013.

I do still maintain people generally are more confident now but obviously that's based on human perception which can be flawed.

I think you've come at this thing with a preconcieved answer in mind and now you're trying to make the facts fit your answer. Your theory makes no sense whatsoever.

Legs.Eleven

Crushed Dry Ice wrote: »

I see where you're going and you may have a point. I was 16 in 2001 and 28 now so it stands to reason that my peers would have been more socially anxious in 2001 than 2013.

I do still maintain people generally are more confident now but obviously that's based on human perception which can be flawed.

I rest my case.

gramar

Crushed Dry Ice wrote: »

I don't think Sir Isaac Newton had alcohol in mind when he came up with that law.

Of course he did, sure wasn't he out picking apples to make cider when one hit him on the head?

Reekwind

Not 100% convinced on this baby boom theory. Was there really a spike in births in the 1980s that sent this 'demographic wave' through the stats?

Legs.Eleven

Reekwind wrote: »

Not 100% convinced on this baby boom theory. Was there really a spike in births in the 1980s that sent this 'demographic wave' through the stats?

Yes. David McWilliams called us the Pope's Children because after the Pope's visit in 1979, births increased:

The children born during that period (who are now between the ages of 25 and 35) are "The Pope's Children" – the first generation since the Great Famine of the mid-19th century to experience an increase in the size of the population. (The rise in birth rates in Ireland began in the early 1970s and peaked in June 1980, exactly nine months after the pope's visit.) According to McWilliams, these 620,000 people became the country's key generation. They are the dynamo of Ireland's economy, politics and culture, and they will shape its face in the 21st century.

Itwasntme.

Crushed Dry Ice wrote: »

I don't think Sir Isaac Newton had alcohol in mind when he came up with that law.

How do you know what he had in mind when he came up with it :P? I bet he had the fear when he stumbled upon this bit of genius.

Mr. CooL ICE

I drink less because my liver is getting worse

Ascii

Crushed Dry Ice wrote: »

So why did people drink less in 2005 than 2001?

Galway did not win the all Ireland football in 2005..... my my 2001 what a hazy :P

gobnaitolunacy

Was out weekend before last and granted that a 30th was on, it was like the Celtic Tiger never ended.

Place had a share of messy drunks in their late teens and 20's, one of them insisted on imparting obscure nuggets of wisdom about the government and the state of the country to me.

Crushed Dry Ice

sbsquarepants wrote: »

I think you've come at this thing with a preconcieved answer in mind and now you're trying to make the facts fit your answer. Your theory makes no sense whatsoever.

The facts I have stated are verifiable, we are drinking less. I clearly stated it is my opinion that we are less confident and that is a factor in are declining alcohol consumption.

Can you prove we are equally or less confident than in 2001 on average in Ireland ?

I maintain people in Ireland are more confident. I think the Internet has effected our levels of confidence both for te better and worse but I believe the positive effect out ways the negative overall.

The Internet has allowed people see inside other people's heads and realise that those strange thoughts they have aren't unusual which allows people to open up and relax more IMO.

A0

Climate change / longer winter, people are less thirsty these days.

seamus

Reekwind wrote: »

Not 100% convinced on this baby boom theory. Was there really a spike in births in the 1980s that sent this 'demographic wave' through the stats?

In simple figures: http://www.cso.ie/en/statistics/birthsdeathsandmarriages/numberofbirthsdeathsandmarriages/

It's a pity there are no stats for the intervening years, but the birth rate in 1980 was 15% higher than the previous 3 decades. A jump in births is very impressive in a patriarchal catholic society with no contraception.
What's more important is the dip in births by the 1990s, which was probably a result of improved sexual education, availability of contraception and the continued rejection of catholic doctrine.

I don't think the demographic "wave" is so much a result of any increase in the births in the 70s (you can see the rate stays pretty much the same), it's the dramatic reduction in births in the following years that created a kind of vaccuum. So the rise in births now is the leading edge of the higher birth rate from the 70s/80s. Likewise, we would expect to see a sizeable dip in birth rates for the 2020s.

The Backwards Man

In addition to demographics, there have been major changes to how people spend their disposable income. There were significantly fewer people with mobile phone, internet or gym membership bills in the mid to late 90s, for example.

gramar

I remember in the mid-nineties going over to the local on a Friday night and it was fairly full..there were a lot of 17-22 years olds. I don't go that often now but when I do I don't see that many people of that age group, if any. The following generation don't seem to be going down that road or at least they don't seem to be going to the pub as much. The reasons why are probably fairly numerous as the country has changed a lot in the last 10-15 years and I'd say changing social culture, the price of drink in pubs and technology has a lot to do with it.

BraziliaNZ

Legs.Eleven wrote: »

Yes. David McWilliams called us the Pope's Children because after the Pope's visit in 1979, births increased:

How come they increased? Did he tell errrrbody not to use condoms?

the_syco

People don't have the money to drink as much as before, and those that want to earn money to drink have probably gone to Oz and Canada to earn money and get drunk :P

Thundercats Ho

BraziliaNZ wrote: »

How come they increased? Did he tell errrrbody not to use condoms?

The Popes visit got all the young wans wet, and they were mad for the mickey.
It's in the second last paragraph of that CSO article linked a few posts up.

frank reynolds

the main thing is, we are drinking less, which is a good thing all round.

the_syco

the_syco wrote: »

People don't have the money to drink as much as before

I don't know, I've a fairly big group of friends and we were in college during the boom, now we always had money for drink then because of plenty of part time work but now we are all working full time and have a lot more money for going out.

Pumpkinseeds

I wonder how much of the decline in drinking is as a result of people switching from booze to pills and powder.

Solair

When you look around at the kind of stuff that is booming, certainly here in Cork anyway - it seems to be mid-priced 'family restaurants' - I mean stuff like burger bars, Nandos and even fancier casual dining places where you can bring your kids.

The demographic shift's pretty dramatic as we'd this huge glut of 18-25 year olds a few years ago and one of the youngest populations in Europe. It's kinda moving on towards slightly closer to middle age now although still no where near over-the-hill like Germany and France.

If you look at somewhere like France, the baby boom occurred earlier, after WWII which is what gave you that 1960s/70s 'avant garde' funky period in French pop culture which sort of came to an abrupt end in the 80s and 90s. Those formerly hip and happening people are now in their 60s/70s and moaning about everything while voting for right wing parties.

It's always worth just looking at the age demographic spread in a country to explain things like binge drinking, national grumpiness, etc etc.

suicide_circus

Pumpkinseeds wrote: »

I wonder how much of the decline in drinking is as a result of people switching from booze to pills and powder.

or the dreaded ganja !!