New research from Drinkaware suggests that Ireland’s relationship with alcohol is shifting in complex but ultimately hopeful ways, with a clear rise in home drinking and solo drinking — but also a strong, growing appetite for alcohol-free social spaces, especially among younger adults.
The 2025 Drinkaware Barometer, now in its tenth year, tracks long-term changes in how Irish adults drink. The latest findings, based on research carried out by Ipsos B&A in July 2025, show that home drinking has become the country’s most common drinking occasion. Almost one in three adults who drink (31%) now drink at home alone at least once a week, and more than half (55%) say home is where they are most likely to have consumed alcohol in the past month.
While concerns remain around binge drinking — with nearly 1 in 4 adult drinkers reporting binge behaviour in the past 30 days — the data also points to a growing cultural shift, particularly among younger people who are driving demand for more balanced, alcohol-free social options.
The trend toward home drinking has been building since the pandemic. It is most notable among adults aged 50–64, where nearly two-thirds (64%) say they are most likely to drink at home, and more than one-fifth (21%) say they are most likely to drink alone. However, this does not translate to a darker drinking landscape overall. Instead, the findings point to changing lifestyles and habits, with many adults seeing alcohol as part of personal downtime rather than purely social occasions.
As John O’Mahony, Director of Behaviour and Attitudes Research, explained, “The continued shift toward home and solo drinking is significant. It reflects changing lifestyles, post-pandemic habits, and how people are managing relaxation and stress.” He added that the Barometer’s long-term tracking allows researchers to understand how social change shapes drinking patterns over time, noting, “This year’s results highlight how the home has replaced the pub as the main setting for alcohol consumption.”
But alongside these shifts, the research highlights a strong appetite for cultural change. Four in ten adults (39%) believe that more alcohol-free spaces and sober events would help them reduce their drinking — a figure that rises dramatically among younger adults, reaching 64% for those aged 18–24 and 51% for those aged 25–34. The desire for sober spaces is also high among people who say they would like to cut down on alcohol (50%).
Late-night cafés (46%) and restaurants with strong non-alcoholic menus (39%) were identified as the most appealing alternatives, reflecting a rising demand for social connection without alcohol. Almost four in ten adults rate the current availability of sober spaces in their area as poor, indicating both a gap and a growing opportunity.
These findings are also echoed in the HSE’s Healthy Ireland 2025 report, which found that 25% of adults have consumed non-alcoholic beer, wine or spirits, with many choosing these options for practical or health reasons. More than half (56%) do so when they need to drive home, while 29% choose them to support better health.
Drinkaware CEO Dearbhla O’Brien said the Barometer paints a complex but encouraging picture. “This year’s Barometer paints a nuanced picture. While weekly drinking has reduced slightly compared to the last two years, binge drinking remains deeply ingrained among 1 in 4 adult drinkers, and the rise in home and solo drinking is a significant cultural development.” She added that more adults are seeking healthier balance in their relationship with alcohol: “These findings show that while alcohol still plays a major role in Irish life, many adults are looking for balance, and want healthier ways to socialise. It’s encouraging to see that so many younger adults want more alcohol-free options.”
O’Brien pointed to the charity’s own work exploring positive change, noting that the Here’s to Change podcast series has featured guests discussing how small adjustments to their drinking habits improved their wellbeing. As she put it, “Ireland is ready for more choice and more conversations about what healthy, mindful drinking looks like.”
As the data shows, while awareness remains important, so does acknowledging the shift already happening across Ireland: more choice, more intention, and a generation increasingly comfortable with sober spaces.
Drinkaware is a national charity working to prevent and reduce alcohol misuse in Ireland. It is governed by an independent board and regulated by the Charities Regulator. For more information on research projects and publications, visit Drinkaware.ie.
