Ireland is the pre-drinks capital, according to an extensive study

Lifestyle

Mar 24, 2017

Pre-drinks are part and parcel of a night out, and from the drunken renditions of No Scrubs to the girly catch ups, we wouldn't have it any other way.

Ireland's love of a good pre-drinks session is reflected in a brand new study, which has put Ireland top of the list of countries that have "prinks" before hitting the town.

Ireland had the highest rate of pre-drinking out of 25 countries studied, which includes the US, Australia and Europe.

when predrinks are at your own house you're in a constant state of outfit indecision … but i could change into this … or back into that

— el (@elmorley_) March 12, 2017

85% of people have a pre-drinks party before heading out to pubs or clubs.

According to the study, the main reasons for pre-drinking are pretty simple.

Primarily, the most often-cited reason for pre-drinking is to save money, as drinks purchased in shops of off licences are "substantially cheaper than drinks purchased in bars and nightclubs."

'Pre drinks at mine?' Is the best phrase in a group chat

— Kirsty (@kirsty_at) March 13, 2017

There is also the social aspect, as people love to chat and engage with friends in a more intimate setting before hitting Coppers.

According to the study, the "prevalence of heavy drinkers’ factor" is also a contributing element, meaning that people hope to arrive to the club already drunk so that they can stay drunk for a longer period of time.

Decent how when you actually need a taxi to be on time they take 25 mins but at pre drinks they take about 10 seconds ???

— mel (@meljspliff) March 24, 2017

The study also found that the higher the prevalence of drinkers in a country, the higher the percentage of pre-drinks.

Pre-drinks are definitely an ingrained tradition for a night out, and we can't see that changing any time soon.

Oh, and while we have you; don't forget to have your say in the inaugural SHEmazing Awards this May! It's time to vote, and you can do it right here!

OK, so apparently women who drink more are actually SMARTER

Jan 15, 2017

by Rebecca O'Keeffe

Ladies, as if we needed a bloody excuse, at least now we have one.

According to a recent study carried out by the London School of Economics, the more educated women are, the more likely they are to drink more.

The study focused on the link between drinking habits and intelligence, and found that "University educated women in the UK drank 86 percent more than women of the same age who did not go to university".

Probably because they're stressed AF!

Anyway, while this kind of seems like a blessing, this study also reported that college educated women are more likely to be heavy drinkers and alcoholics.

So it's not all unicorns and rainbows, unfortunately!

Basically, booze won't actually make you more intelligent' but if you are intelligent, you'll drink more booze.

Cheers, so.

Beer, vodka, WINE: This machine can make ALL the booze at home

Jan 11, 2017

by Amber Saunders

Most off-licences close at 10pm. But, busy working women don't stop at 10pm. So, when the pang hits and you fancy a G&T or a glass of beer, it's pretty frustrating that you can't pop by the shops and pick some booze up.

That's why we're in awe of this wonder machine that will be able to make all kinds of alcohol.

Keurig, the company famous for its coffee maker, has released a press release with the news that the business is working on creating an alcoholic drink maker.

Keurig announced that while the product is still in the research and development stage, they're working hard to create an "in-home alcohol drink system," where you can create "beer, spirits, cocktails and mixers" all in the comfort of your kitchen.

Most reports believe that the booze-maker (we like that name better) will be like other Keurig machines and only brew one drink at a time, which is causing problems for people who want to party.

But, just pressing a button and making your very own wine? We'll take that.

It’s time to warm your winter with Dublin’s best boozy hot chocolate

Nov 29, 2016

by Amber Saunders

Despite trying to behave in the safety of November, everyone knows over the next few days any hope we once had of avoiding indulgence will swiftly evaporate into Winter's sky.

So, what better way to acknowledge the festive season than to combine two of its most celebrated assets in one soul-soothing beverage?

Cue: Boozy Hot Chocolate! To mark the Christmas season, a number of Dublin’s top bars have added a spruced-up version of everyone’s favourite sweet drink to their cocktail menus.

Zozimus on Anne’s Lane has merged “a generous amount of golden rum” with “warm luxurious chocolate milk”, vanilla ice cream and crushed biscuit to create their festive offering.

Our Boozy Hot Coco is simply divine

A photo posted by Zozimus Bar (@zozimusbar) on Nov 23, 2016 at 2:08pm PST

While The Paddocks Bar & Lounge in Clonee has developed a variety of boozy hot chocolates including the toasted marshmallow-topped Baileys edition and the tempting white vanilla infused adult cuppa.

If ever there was a drink to steal our hearts, we think this is it!

Feat image: Shutterstock

Is €5 wine here to stay after all? Min alcohol pricing could be vetoed

Sep 27, 2016

by Amber Saunders

The Government's controversial plans to make wine, beer and spirits more expensive has hit something of a speed bump… and now may not be implemented at all.

Although the proposals have been given the nod by the European Health Commissioner the move may still be illegal in the eyes of Brussels.

That's because of the European single market – a basis under which some ten mainly alcohol-producing EU countries have now objected to Ireland's plans for more pricey booze.

Ireland has a per capita consumption of ten litres per annum, a figure which puts us behind the likes of the Czech Republic, Russia, Austria and Lithuania – but globally still very much in the Top Ten drinking nations.

We currently consume about the same amount as France and Australia.

Whether the proposed bills makes it through the Oireachtas will also largely rest of the success of a similar bid to introduce minimum alcohol pricing in Scotland.

There, the EU has said that the proposals CAN be implemented on public health grounds – but only if there are no other alternatives.

Cheers, lads! The price of booze in Ireland is about to majorly DROP

Jul 26, 2016

by Amber Saunders

One thing that stops many of us from going on a night out is the cost.

In college, student bars and low drink offers meant we could party all night for twenty quid and arrive home safe, but now, along with a taxi to and from the bar, OUTRAGEOUS alcohol prices (I paid nearly €12 for a drink the other night) and an entrance fee, nights out are very, very expensive.

However, now the Drinks Industry Group of Ireland (DIGI) are looking to lower the excise of alcohol in Ireland by 15 percent.

The lobby group are calling for the reduction in the next budget. In DIGI's pre-budget plan, it says that excise is a "direct tax on tourism and that a reduction would support the drinks and hospitality industry, boosting economic growth."

It also pointed out that since Brexit has made the sterling pound vastly drop, it will give an immediate boost to buying alcohol over the boarder.

DIGI's chairwoman, Maggie Timoney said: "An alcohol excise reduction is a vital response to the new and immediate effect of the uncertainty caused by Brexit.

"Alcohol tax is a regressive and inequitable tax and ours is very high by EU standards. We believe that the particularly high Irish excise tax is detrimental to economic growth and economic activity.

"We would urge the Government to reduce excise by 15 percent in October's budget," Maggie added.

The CHEAPEST day of the week to buy wine has been revealed! Wohoo

Jul 24, 2016

by Amber Saunders

If prepping for pres is not your thing it might be time to pay attention as that last minute dash down the wine aisle on a Saturday night could be costing you a fair bit of money.

A new study by mobile shopping app Ibotta has found that you should not shop for wine and beer at weekends as alcohol tends to cost more on Saturdays and Sundays than it does during the week.

According to Redbook, while analysing 50 million receipts Ibotta learned that a bottle of vino is on average 6 percent cheaper to buy on a Tuesday than it is at the weekend and beer costs 9 percent less on a Monday than it does on Saturday or Sunday.

Because this study was conducted in the US, we’re unsure how accurately its findings apply to Ireland but it does suggest it could be worthwhile keeping an eye on daily alcohol prices here too just in case.

Feat image: Fox

Gin, lime and tonic sorbet? Alcohol infused desserts are taking over!

Jul 23, 2016

by Amber Saunders

We've been enjoyed the wonderfully warm weather as of late – but for those who can't decide between a cool glass of beer and a cool ice-cream, one company may have come up with the perfect solution.

Step forward Drunken Dairy – the maker of the likes of the white chocolate and Malibu White Knight (abv 2.3 percent); the gin, lime and tonic GLT sorbet (abv 5.1 percent), and the cookies and cream with vodka OMG (abv 4 percent).

Which of our new flavours tickles your fancy most? Rippler Rippler – Vanilla & vodka ice cream with raspberry liqueur ripple, Bee Sting – Mango sorbet with chilli and honey @cazcabeltequila or The Italian Job – Tiramisu ice cream with Kahlua soaked sponge chunks? #drunkendairy #selondon #boozeinfused #icecream #foodiegram #crystalpalace

A photo posted by Drunken Dairy (@drunkendairy) on Apr 29, 2016 at 9:30am PDT

Set up in the spring of 2013, the makers attend food markets and events in London – giving out plenty of free samples to curious bystanders.

They also cater for corporate events, festivals, weddings and parties, though sadly the product has yet to be widely rolled-out outside of London.

An added bonus? The alcohol in the ice cream and sorbets actually lowers the freezing point – meaning it’s naturally soft scoop and tastes pretty amazing straight from the freezer.

The new flavours are going down well at @east_dulwich_picturehouse! Happy 1st birthday

A photo posted by Drunken Dairy (@drunkendairy) on Apr 16, 2016 at 7:35am PDT

The brand has just this week moved into a bigger, better premises – so expansion is very much already underway.

And until the Drunken Dairy lands in a fridge closer to home, we'll just have to keep our desserts and our alcohol separate.

Hold UP! Deliveroo is now adding ALCOHOL to their delivery service

Jul 20, 2016

by Amber Saunders

There's no doubt that the advent of Deliveroo has changed the way us Dubliners eat.

While delivery services used signal our decline into an evening of major comfort eating, this business has established links with dozens of restaurants in the capital which veer away from the standard fare associated with home delivery food.

With breakfasts on demand and more salads than you can shake a stick at, Deliveroo, which is set to expand its services across the country in the near future, has really upped the ante, and now they've gone one step further.

According to the Irish Independent, the business will be launching a beer and wine service which will operate in the same way as its current food service.

But with concerns raised regarding the purchase and consumption of alcohol among under-18s, Deliveroo have confirmed that they will be requesting ID from customers who look under the age of 25.

Further to this, it has been confirmed that cash payments for this service will not be accepted, with a spokesperson asserting: "Customers will be able to pay for alcohol orders through our website and app, like they would our normal delivery service."

"We won't facilitate cash transactions for these orders or our traditional food order," they added.

Deliveroo will be linking up with Baggot Street Wines, Fresh supermarkets and Galway Bay Brewery.

This new WRISTBAND could help you dodge hangovers forever more

Jul 6, 2016

by Amber Saunders

Ever wake up from the night before with a bit of a sore head and think never again? Yeah, us too.

But thankfully hangovers could soon be a thing of the past due to a brand new gadget which tells you when to stop drinking before you reach a hangover-earning state.

The new Bactrack Skyn wristband measures the amount of ethanol coming from your skin using an electrochemical sensor in a non-invasive way and sends an alert to your smartphone when that level has reached a certain point.

The world's first wearable alcohol monitor not only collects data about the levels of alcohol in the blood but also stores and interprets that information before sending it to a smartphone which will alert the wearer of the band’s findings.

The owner’s phone can be set to buzz when their blood alcohol content is approaching a figure like 0.04% to warn them to slow down.

According to Bactrack Skyn's website, the device could also be used by the family members of alcoholics as a warning that sobriety has been broken.

Because the wristband measures blood alcohol levels continuously in real time, it can tell you when you’ve had enough to drink before you even realise you have.

Bactrack Skyn was recently awarded $200,000 from the National Institute of Health in the US and will be available for purchase later this year.

Dangerous ‘DRUNKOREXIA’ is on the RISE according to new study

Jul 4, 2016

by Amber Saunders

Many of us have heard that “eating is cheating” when it comes to drinking, but how dangerous is it to actually believe and apply that concept in reality?

Well according to new research carried out by the University of Houston, combining alcohol consumption with more extreme diet type behaviours can lead to a condition called “drunkorexia”.

Science Daily have defined drunkorexia as “a non-medical term that refers to a combination of alcohol with diet-related behaviours such as food restriction, excessive exercising, or bingeing and purging” – basically cutting calories in various ways to avoid alcohol-related weight-gain, get drunk easier or both.

Although drunkorexia is not a new phenomenon, this study suggests it is now affecting more people than ever before with 80% of the 1,184 students surveyed having recently engaged in at least one drunkorexic behaviour.

Assistant Professor Dipali Rinker who was involved in the study said: "College students appear to engage in these behaviors to increase alcohol effects or reduce alcohol-related calories by engaging in bulimic-type or diet/exercising/calorie-restricted eating behaviours."

According to the study, women were more likely to engage in bulimic-type behaviours than men but men and women were equally likely to skip meals if they planned a heavy night of drinking.

Experts have warned that drunkorexic behaviour can have negative consequences in both the long and short terms.

Not eating before drinking heavily increases the chances of blacking out, being injured and making decisions you'll regret later on.

As always drinking in moderation is advised, as is following a healthy diet and exercise regime.

You won’t believe how many bottles of WINE we each drink in a year

Jun 22, 2016

by Amber Saunders

Us Irish are well known for our questionable drinking habits, but the results of a new study by the Health Research Board are truly shocking.

According to the research, the average Irish drinker consumes 11 litres of pure alcohol per year.

That in itself mightn’t mean much, but when you convert it into pints of beer and bottles of wine things get really scary.

11 litres of alcohol equals 445 pints of beer, 29 litres of vodka or 116 bottles of wine per person per year.

And the bad news doesn’t end there.

The report also found that alcohol-related discharges from hospital cost Irish taxpayers €1.5 billion in 2012 – that’s more than 10% of the total amount spent on public healthcare that year.

The study stressed that it's not just what we drink that's the issue, but how we drink it as binge-drinking is still massive problem in Irish society.