Irish guidelines on what constitutes low-risk alcohol consumption may need to be reviewed in light of the latest research, according to a new report from the Health Information and Quality Authority.
The report also states there is no strong scientific basis for the gender-specific thresholds currently in use, and that the difference in risk between men and women is minimal, reports RTE.
HIQA says there is a substantial level of risk associated even with low levels of alcohol consumption.
The existing HSE guidelines define low-risk drinking as fewer than 11 standard drinks per week for women and fewer than 17 for men, reports RTE.
A standard unit is defined as half a pint of beer, one small glass of wine or one pub measure of spirits.
The last review of the guidelines in Ireland was carried out in 2015, reports RTE.
HIQA has also published a second report modelling the risk of death and hospital admission linked to alcohol consumption.
It found that alcohol was estimated to account for an average of 1,420 deaths and 27,066 hospital admissions per year between 2022 and 2024, reports RTE.
The risk of death before age 75, death at any age, years of life lost and the rate of hospital admissions all increased in line with rising alcohol consumption.
The reports conclude there is no clear risk-free level of alcohol consumption, reports RTE.
How weekly drinks are consumed and spread across how many days is also identified as an important factor.
The review found no firm conclusions from the international literature on the impact of alcohol consumption on mental health, reports RTE.
HIQA’s Deputy Director of Health Technology Assessment Michelle O’Neill said the research published shows a clear link between increased alcohol consumption and mortality and hospital admission rates.
Alcohol Action Ireland said it has been advocating for a revision of Ireland’s low-risk guidelines to reflect the current understanding of the health risks associated with alcohol, and said the HIQA reports underline the need for the Department of Health to update the guidelines without delay, reports RTE.
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