Finian McGrath
Ceist:809 Mr. F. McGrath asked the Minister for Health and Children the approximate cost to the health service of alcohol related cases. [19688/03]
Written Answers. - Alcohol-Related Illnesses.
Research commissioned by the health promotion unit of my Department as part of its involvement in the European comparative alcohol study in 1999 estimated the cost to the Irish economy of alcohol related problems to be approximately €2.4 billion. This included costs to the health service, road accidents, alcohol related crime, loss of output due to work absences, transfer payments and taxes not collected on lost output. The healthcare component amounted to €279 million.