Drink costs €7b and is the reason for 90% of trouble

Alcohol abuse in Ireland costs the State €3.5 billion a year but if the adverse effect on others were factored in, it is possible that the cost could be double.

A garda in a city centre station, who wishes to remain anonymous, says that 90 per cent of 'trouble' and 'violence', excluding the world of drug/criminal activity, is as a result of the abuse of alcohol consumption.