Younger adults (18 - 29 years) are considerably more likely to drink alcohol than older adults (60 - 75 years), according to a new survey released by the Department of Health.

While younger adults are 82% likely to drink alcohol, older adults are only 58% likely to drink, the results showed.

The survey found that 73% of all respondents drank alcohol. 76% were male and 70% were female.

The most common alcoholic drinks consumed by males were beer at 70%, wine at 35% and spirits at 27%. For women, it was wine at 64%, spirits at 30% and beer at 19%.

65% of respondents who drank alcohol in the week prior to the survey had consumed it at home, while 20% drank either in the pub and 17% in restaurants.

29% of men and 42% of women did not exceed the recommended daily drinking levels during the week prior to the survey.

While 13% of men exceeded the recommended daily limits on three or more days in the previous week, for women the proportion was just 6%.

31% of those respondents who drank in the week before the survey had engaged in at least one binge drinking session. At 35%, men were more likely to do so than females, at 27%.

57% of men and 69% of women who consumed alcohol in the week prior to the survey considered themselves to be light drinkers.

(IT/CD)