Irish women have been ranked amongst the heaviest female drinkers in the world, according to a recent global report.
There has also been a big fall in the number of teetotal women in Ireland over the past 30 years.
Irish women were named fourth in a league table of female drinking nations, behind only Lithuania, Moldova and the Czech Republic.
The findings were published in the Lancet medical journal after a combined study conducted by TU Dresden, Germany, and the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health, Toronto, Canada.
It showed that the average intake of alcohol has risen from 5.9 litres a year per adult in 1990, to 6.5 litres in 2017. That figure is predicted to rise to 7.6 litres by 2030.
The number of teetotal women in Ireland has fallen from 20% in 1990 to 13% in 2017.
The study also found than one in three Irish adults were classed as binge drinkers in 1990, and that figure has risen to four in ten. Binge drinking is defined as drinking six or more drinks in one session at least once a month.
Irish drinking habits are forecast to remain stable up to 2030, but not show any significant fall either.
The study of more than 189 countries estimated that by 2030 half of all adults around the world will drink alcohol, and almost a quarter will binge drink at least once a month.
The researchers urged governments to increase their message about alcohol abuse to help reduce the negative health impacts in the future.
Written by Andrew Moore
