All Ireland Traveller Health Study Our Geels - Department of Health ...

Health Survey Findings
The reported frequency of alcohol consumption in the AITHS is comparable to that of the medical card
holders in SLAN 2007, and both groups have lower frequencies of consumption than do the general
SLAN 2007 population. However, of those who do drink alcohol, the AITHS participants report drinking
a greater number of alcoholic drinks than do SLAN 2007 medical card holders. 66.1% of male and
42.3% of female ROI Travellers and 65.6% of male and 39.3% of female NI Travellers drink six or more
alcoholic drinks on days when they are drinking alcohol, compared with 35.8% of male and 17.0% of
female SLAN 2007 medical card holders. From the 2008-2009 NI Continuous Household survey, 74%
of all respondents drink alcohol, with 82% of 25-44-year-olds and 77% of 45 to 65-year-olds reporting
alcohol consumption.
Table 256: Self reported frequency of alcohol consumption in the SLAN 2007 and AITHS
groups
Travellers (ROI)
(n=1,639)
Travellers (NI)
(n=399)
SLAN 2007
medical
card holders
(n=3,428)
SLAN 2007 all
participants
(n=3,718)
Under 30 years :
Never drink alcohol (%) 40.9% 45.4% 16.2% 11.0%
Drink >2 times per week (%) 9.3% 16.1% 26.7% 38.0%
30-44 years:
Never drink alcohol (%) 30.9% 32.1% 19.6% 14.0%
Drink >2 times per week (%) 16.3% 29.1% 28.0% 38.0%
45-64 years:
Never drink alcohol (%) 39.9% 35.8% 30.7% 21.0%
Drink >2 times per week (%) 17.6% 32.1% 30.3% 41.0%
65 and older:
Never drink alcohol (%) 46.2% 28.6% 43.5% 41.0%
Drink >2 times per week (%) 14.3% 28.6% 25.1% 28.0%
Total
Never drink alcohol (%) 38.1% 39.3% 32.7% 19.0%
Drink >2 times per week (%) 13.4% 22.8% 27.1% 38.0%
213