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Irish Times
7 hours ago
- Health
- Irish Times
We're drinking less and generally more health conscious. So why is cocaine use increasing?
A major generational shift has occurred in Irish society without much fanfare. Alcohol consumption in Ireland has collapsed. A report commissioned by the Drinks Industry Group of Ireland published this month showed the average alcohol consumption per adult in Ireland fell 4.5 per cent in 2024 compared with 2023. The story over the course of two decades is much more profound. Since 2001, alcohol consumption per adult in Ireland fell by 34.3 per cent. Today, people in Ireland are drinking at average European levels (a good argument for reducing excise taxes). The Health Research Board 's 2024 report on alcohol showed Ireland is no longer a high alcohol consumption country by European Union or OECD standards. This is a remarkable shift, great news for public health, and will have a positive knock-on effect for decades to come. The reasons suggested for this can come off as anecdotal or vague, but like any behavioural shift, there tends to be multiple factors at once. What we do know is that this is a trend led by younger generations, who are less likely to reach for the bottle compared with their older siblings and parents. The data consistently show this. A report by Red C in April – part of broader polling across 39 countries – showed that 21 per cent of 18- to 24-year olds drink often, compared with 31 per cent of all adults, and 48 per cent of older men. READ MORE Younger people are more health conscious and therefore more mindful of the damage alcohol and hangovers cause to the body and mind. Alcohol is also as expensive as it has ever been in Ireland. Student life has changed due to the housing and rental crisis, with fewer younger people living independently as Ireland has regressed to a context more akin to the early 20th century, with people living with their parents well into adulthood. Younger people are also more attuned to their mental and emotional wellbeing, and less likely than Generation X adults to hit the bottle to dissociate under the guise of 'relaxing' or reducing stress. There is less peer pressure among younger people to drink compared with the social culture older generations fostered within their peer groups, and less judgment around sobriety. The trend of alcohol-free months can also reduce people's consumption in the short and medium term, and sometimes embed lifelong moderation. Ultimately, younger people are more grown up and responsible when it comes to alcohol. For all the progress made around alcohol, there is a major youth public-health issue regarding cocaine use. This is not being addressed in anything approaching something effective All of this speaks to a sense of maturity, confidence and capacity to be grounded enough and able to exert at least some kind of self-control that was absent among older generations. What has been happening concurrently is that more people are using therapy and other resources to address their mental health needs. According to the most recent St Patrick's Mental Health Stigma and Attitudes Survey, in 2024, 66 per cent of people who were experiencing mental health difficulties sought treatment, an increase of 10 per cent from 2023. A movement from self-medicating to self-care is a sign of collective emotional growth. It demonstrates a capacity for self-reflection and self-examination, as well as a reduction in stigma around seeking help for mental health challenges. But there is something else happening alongside the decline in alcohol consumption, and that's the rise in cocaine use. A 2023 United Nations report showed that Ireland is, remarkably, the joint-fourth highest consumer of cocaine globally. [ Cocaine cited as main drug in almost two-fifths of cases needing treatment Opens in new window ] Demographically, this is a younger person's issue. Among 15 to 34-year-olds, Ireland has the distinction of being home to the biggest consumers of cocaine in Europe. In 2024, the median age for those seeking treatment for powder cocaine use was 32 years old. Thirty-nine per cent were in employment, compared with 7 per cent of crack cocaine users in treatment. Heroin and opioid users in treatment skew older, with an average age of 45, in tune with the 'greying' of heroin and opioid users in Ireland, which has been the case for some time. In 2024, there were more people treated for problem drug use in Ireland than ever before, according to the Health Research Board . Cocaine was the most common drug used by those in treatment, up 7 per cent from 2023. Since 2017, there has been a 426 per cent increase in women receiving cocaine treatment. Figures for 2023 for people contacting the Health Service Executive 's drug and alcohol helpline also showed record numbers. Twenty-one per cent of calls were related to cocaine. In 2009, cocaine was mentioned by 2 per cent of callers. This is a huge jump. For all the progress made around alcohol, there is a major youth public-health issue regarding cocaine use. This is not being addressed in anything approaching something effective. It demands and requires a non-judgmental public-health response, and education and awareness, all of which appears to be lacking relative to the level of consumption in Ireland. We are in a situation where there are signs that one public-health issue – excessive alcohol consumption – is being at least partly replaced by another. If we have the stats, where's the action?
Irish Independent
09-06-2025
- Business
- Irish Independent
Price hikes forcing shoppers to buy less in a bid to save money
The cost-of-living squeezed also means that getting the best price is the main priority for shoppers. People are making choices about where to shop best on the prices they can get, according to the latest KPMG Next Gen Retail Survey. The survey found that close to six out of 10 shoppers say that getting the best price is the main priority when deciding where to shop. The findings come as recent statistics showed that the price of a weekly shop is rising at more than double the general rate of inflation. Figures from grocery data firm Kantar last week showed grocery prices were up 4.96pc by May 18, compared to the same 12-week period last year. Kantar said we now have a clear 'tipping point' when inflation goes above 3pc to 4pc. This is when shoppers start to feel it in their wallets, and they change their behaviour, Kantar said. KPMG found that almost a third of Irish shoppers feel less financially secure now compared to the start of the year. The research highlights significant financial pressure that Irish consumers are under, and a risk of further consumer price pressure as the impact of tariffs take effect. Questioning was conducted by Red C in early April, after US President Donald Trump make his first announcement on tariffs. Head of consumer, retail and manufacturing at KPMG David O'Kelly said the future for shoppers was unsettling. ADVERTISEMENT Learn more 'This research highlights the significant financial pressure Irish consumers are under as we move through 2025. 'Financial uncertainty could be compounded by increased trade headwinds depending on the form of the threatened tariff changes. This dynamic creates a clear challenge to Ireland's retailers to optimise their supply chains and cost structures to maintain competitiveness,' he said. Researchers found that Irish shoppers are actively modifying their shopping behaviours to manage household budgets. More than half of the respondents (54pc) said they are now buying less items to save money. This is an increase from 50pc who said they are buying less when surveyed last October. Shoppers are using various tactics to stretch their shopping budgets. They are making more frequent use of retailer loyalty schemes to get lower prices. Shoppers are also actively seeking out products on promotions or discounts. They are buying more own-brand or value products, or cancelling monthly subscriptions are the main saving methods, the KPMG-commissioned survey found. The report reveals that females are notably more likely than men to implement various cost-saving measures. Loyalty schemes and discounts continue to influence consumer behaviour. Two in five report that discounts play a crucial role in their shopping decisions. People between the ages of 18 and 24, and those between the ages of 34 and 54 place an even higher importance on the use of discounts. Nearly three in five indicate that loyalty schemes drive their choice of retailer, with these programmes having a particularly strong impact on younger shoppers when deciding where to shop. Physical stores continue to be the preferred channel for essential purchases. The report found that 85pc of Irish adults still purchase groceries primarily in-store, a figure that has remained stable over the past year. Some 56pc of shoppers favour physical stores for homeware items. Just over a third of clothing shoppers also prefer in-person shopping experiences. Rural consumers are more likely to buy clothes and fashion online compared to urban residents.
RTÉ News
09-06-2025
- Business
- RTÉ News
Almost a third of shoppers feel less financially secure now
Almost a third of Irish shoppers feel less financially secure now compared to the start of the year, according to new research from KPMG. The latest KPMG Next Gen Retail Survey also found that over half say getting the best price is the main priority for them when deciding where to shop. The survey was conducted by Red C between 3 - 9 April 2025, after US tariff announcements on 2 April. The research highlights significant financial pressure that Irish consumers are under, and a risk of further consumer price pressure as the impact of tariffs take effect. "Financial uncertainty could be compounded by increased trade headwinds depending on the form of the threatened tariff changes," said Head of Consumer, Retail & Manufacturing at KPMG David O'Kelly. "This dynamic creates a clear challenge to Ireland's retailers to optimise their supply chains and cost structures to maintain competitiveness. The retail sector has adapted to significant change in the past and no doubt will use the tools available to pivot again." Over half (54%) of those surveyed said they are buying less items to save money and modify their household budgets, an increase from 50% in October 2024. Mr O'Kelly said the younger cohort (18-24 year olds) were very price focused when it came to seeking out the best price or value for money. "Price is the number one thing going for young people going shopping," said Mr O'Kelly. "Then my own cohort, middle-aged with family as you can imagine with inflation and food inflation, that's a cohort that has seen the weekly bill go up quite a bit, they shop around for deals too. "What's interesting though if you look into that, they tend to look for more recurring value with store cards or loyalty cards as opposed to the younger cohort who tend to be less brand loyal, they just buy whatever's cheapest." Consumer behaviour shows little change, with physical stores continuing to be the preferred channel for essential categories. A significant 85% of Irish adults still purchase groceries primarily in-store. Nearly 3 in 5 (59%) think the experience of shopping in-person will never be matched by online shopping. Despite this, online shopping continues to grow, with 50% of respondents considering it generally cheaper than in-store options, compared to 51% last year. The online shopping landscape is also being shaped by new entrants. Notably, 1 in 5 report they will shop online more often due to the launch of in March, a figure that rises to 42% among 18-24-year-olds.
The Journal
09-06-2025
- Politics
- The Journal
Oceans get their day in the sun at UN summit in French Riviera
PROTECTING THE RICH undersea wildlife in our oceans – like the kind brought to life in David Attenborough's recent 'Ocean' film release – is the focus of an international conference taking place in France this week. Environment activists are watching to see whether countries will use the UN Ocean Conference as a platform to ratify the High Seas Treaty – a legal framework to protect biodiversity that is only open to signatures from states for a few more months. Ireland signed the treaty in 2023 when it was introduced but has not yet ratified it – that is, agreed to be bound by it internationally. A spokesperson for the Department of Foreign Affairs confirmed to The Journal that Ireland intends to ratify it later this year pending an EU Directive. Taoiseach Michéal Martin is representing the Irish government at the conference, where a political declaration that has been drafted for countries to consider will focus on ocean conservation and using oceans for economic activities in ways that are sustainable. Advertisement It aims to put countries on track to comply with a 2022 agreement that set a target of protecting at least 30% of the world's marine ecosystems by 2030. New polling by Red C for campaign group Fair Seas last week found 72% of people agree the Irish government needs to do more to show leadership on ocean environmental issues, while 82% said a healthy marine environment is essential for Ireland's long-term food security. French President Emmanuel Macron, who is pushing to reach the necessary threshold of 60 countries ratifying the High Seas Treaty to bring it into force, said in the lead-up to the conference in the French Riviera that the world's future 'depends on protecting our oceans'. The UN Ocean conference meets only once every three years and it's hoped that the gathering of leaders this week will lead to countries pledging funding for measures to protect the oceans. Ahead of the conference, the European Commission revealed a new 'Ocean Pact' on Thursday. It includes measures like fighting illegal fishing, restoring degraded coastal marine habitats, and supporting coastal and island communities. Tom Pickerell of the World Resources Institute's Ocean Program said the pact 'rightly places the ocean at the heart of Europe's environmental, economic, and geopolitical future' and that its 'push for ocean innovation, from offshore renewables and blue biotech to circular economy solutions and zero-carbon shipping, marks real progress toward a sustainable blue economy'. Related Reads Ireland just had its warmest spring in at least 126 years Storm warning: Extreme wind is now 'priority' climate risk for Ireland However, he cautioned that 'bold words must be backed by results' and that 'many commitments lack clear timelines, targets and accountability'. 'As leaders meet in Nice next week for the UN Ocean Conference, this is a vital moment for countries to restore the ocean's health,' Pickerell said. 'Governments must ratify the High Seas Treaty, protect 30% of the ocean by 2030 and back efforts to manage all national waters sustainably.' Oceans are under mounting pressure from climate change, biodiversity loss and pollution. Oceans absorb carbon dioxide from the atmosphere, helping to contain some emissions that would otherwise contribute to global warming, but increasing volumes of these emissions are raising acidification levels in the water, threatening marine life. Economic activities linked to oceans are worth an estimated $2.5 trillion globally but the impacts of climate change on marine life are a threat to the sectors that rely on the blue economy. Readers like you are keeping these stories free for everyone... A mix of advertising and supporting contributions helps keep paywalls away from valuable information like this article. Over 5,000 readers like you have already stepped up and support us with a monthly payment or a once-off donation. Learn More Support The Journal
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Business Standard
05-06-2025
- Health
- Business Standard
Israel's RedC wants to turn donor cells into $50 shelf-ready blood
Although RedC has already produced small quantities of blood using this process, the real test will be whether it can scale up production, bring down costs, and secure regulatory clearances Surajeet Das Gupta New Delhi Listen to This Article In the next five to six years, you might be able to buy laboratory (lab)-grown blood off the shelf for just $50 a unit, compatible with all blood types. An Israel-based company, RedC Biotech, is working towards that goal. It is developing a process that reprogrammes blood from universal donors (O-negative) by deactivating genes in the white blood cells, converting them into stem cells. These are then harvested and multiplied in large bioreactors capable of producing 2,000 litres of red blood cells, using technology developed by the Technion — Israel Institute of Technology. Although RedC has already produced small quantities
