According to new Revenue clearance data, alcohol consumption in Ireland declined by 4.5% year-on-year during the first nine months of 2020.
Revenue's data indicates that beer consumption fell by almost 15% year-on-year during the nine month period, and by 17.2% during the third quarter of the year specifically.
Meanwhile, cider consumption decreased by 9.6% during the first three quarters of 2020 as a whole, and by 14.1% in Q3 specifically, and consumption of spirits declined by 4.4% during the first nine months of the year.
Wine consumption increased, however, this did not offset the overall fall in alcohol consumption.
"Significantly Impacted"
Drinks Ireland director Patricia Callan stated, "The drinks sector and wider hospitality industry have been significantly impacted by COVID-19, which has hit beer and cider sales particularly hard."
Callan added that the decline in alcohol consumption in Ireland during the first nine months of the year was due to "pubs, restaurants and hotels being closed for periods of time" and business restrictions that were implemented to slow the spread of COVID-19.
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