Irish women binge drinking

One in three 17 to 30-year-olds is now classed as a heavy drinker, bingeing on four or more units in one session at least once a fortnight.

That puts them second in an international league of shame, with only Ireland having a bigger problem.

The study - the largest ever into worldwide drinking habits - is yet more proof of how Labour's relaxed attitude to alcohol is having devastating consequences for society. …

The report's co-author, Professor Andrew Steptoe [UCL Epidemiology & Public Health] said: "Although not all young heavy drinkers end up being heavy drinkers in later life, they are at higher risk later."

Only Ireland fared worse in the poll, with a staggering 57 per cent of women admitting to binge drinking. …

Professor Steptoe also found that a quarter of English men binge-drink.

However, this did not put England near the top of the male league table, which is also topped by Ireland, with a figure of 49 per cent. …

Fiona MacRae, 'Daily Mail'