Alcohol-related emergency department presentations and hospital admissions around the time of minimum unit pricing in Ireland

Abstract

Background Minimum unit pricing (MUP) was recently introduced in Ireland to reduce alcohol-related harms. The size of the impact of alcohol on hospital emergency departments (EDs) in Ireland is poorly understood due to inconsistent alcohol screening and documentation. Aims We sought to systematically characterise the volume, timing, and nature of alcohol-related presentations and admissions to a busy urban ED in Dublin, Ireland. Method Patients presenting to the ED were assessed by a dedicated clinician during selected time periods before (Nov–Dec 2021) and after (Feb–Apr 2022) the introduction of MUP. A total of 725 interviews were conducted over 168 h in the ED. Findings Alcohol consumption was a factor in 19.4% of ED presentations and in 17.3% of hospital admissions across the entire study period. A reduction in overall alcohol-related ED presentations was noted in the period following MUP, although it is not possible to conclude a direct effect. Conclusion Alcohol-related harm places a significant strain on EDs and hospitals, and the impact of MUP on hospital burden in Ireland merits further evaluation. Effective measures at local and population levels are urgently required to address this burden.