Over the last 30 years, Irish teens have been drinking, smoking, and using cannabis far less than they did in the 1990s, marking a dramatic shift backed by a new European study.
However, while those numbers are falling, there’s a growing concern: more and more teens are getting involved in gambling and gaming.
ESPAD Surveyed Teens Across 40 Countries
These findings come from the 2024 European School Survey Project on Alcohol and Other Drugs (ESPAD), which looked at teen behavior in 40 countries.
In 1995, Irish teenagers were actually among the heaviest users of alcohol and cigarettes in Europe, well above the average. Now, they’re significantly below those levels.
In fact, Ireland was highlighted as one of just three countries with the “greatest reductions” in lifetime smoking and alcohol use since the study began.
For instance, lifetime alcohol use among Irish teens dropped from a staggering 91% in 1995 to 67% this year.
The number of teens who regularly smoke has dropped significantly, from 41% back in 1995 down to just 9% in 2024.
Cannabis use has gone down too, though not quite as sharply. Lifetime use fell from 36% to 12%, which is now about the same as the European average.
When it comes to current cannabis use, meaning those who used it in the past month, the rate has dropped from 17% in 1995 to just 5% in 2024.
The ESPAD study also found that vaping, which wasn’t really tracked in earlier years, has become a bigger part of nicotine use among teens. Combined cigarette and vape use sits at 18%, aligned with the European average.
Gambling, Up 5% Among Irish Teens
However, as traditional substance use declines, other behaviors are gaining ground. While teen gambling rates have stayed steady since 2015, online gambling has surged. In 2024, 14% of teens reported gambling online, nearly double 2019’s figure.
The rise is sharpest among girls, jumping from 3% to 9% in five years. Boys still gamble more overall (29% vs. 16%) and are twice as likely to gamble online.
Despite tighter laws, harmful gambling behavior has nearly doubled since 2019, with the biggest spike among girls, highlighting the need for better prevention and education.
Earlier in the month, the Bank of Ireland announced the introduction of different debit card gambling blocks amid the rise in gambling amongst youngsters. In March, the country also launched the Gambling and Gaming Specific Outpatient Programme, its pioneering, fully-funded gambling addiction treatment program.
Gaming Surged to 87% in Five Years
Gaming has surged too. In 2024, 87% of Irish 15- and 16-year-olds reported gaming in the last year, up from 57% just five years ago. That figure also outpaces the European average.
In Ireland, it has become part of everyday life for 80% of students across 32 countries, a major jump from just 47% in 2015.
What was once largely seen as a boys’ domain has shifted dramatically. In 2015, only 22% of girls said they played video games.
By 2024, that figure had surged to 71%, showing just how much the landscape has changed. Boys still report higher participation overall, increasing from 71% to 89% over the same period, but their rise was steadier compared to the sharp climb among girls.
Alongside the growing popularity of gaming, there’s also a growing concern: about one in five teens now believe they might have a gaming problem.
Social media habits are raising similar red flags. Nearly half of all students surveyed (47%) admitted to what they considered problematic social media use, up from 38% in 2015.
Girls in particular were more likely to describe their relationship with social media as problematic.
The numbers suggest a shifting landscape in the way teens choose to spend their time and take risks. While fewer are turning to drink or cigarettes, more are reaching for a controller, or placing a bet.
