According to an Irish study by Health Research Board researchers published in the journal Alcohol and Alcoholism, boozing is the mainly factor responsible for the occurrence of liver disease by people between 20 and 30 years old.

In a period of 13 years, the rate of illnesses and deaths because of liver disease has increased by 190pc in all age groups. The rate of deaths and liver disease among adults went to 82.2 in 2007 from 28.3 (per 100,000) in 1995. In the younger age group, the increase was less, but it is still a reason of concern.

The number of patients who went to the hospital to undergo treatment against liver disease increased over the same period, by 247pc for people between 15-34 years old. The death rate among adults who were hospitalized because of the illness unfortunately increased to 7.1 per 100,000 in 2007 (against 2.6 in 1995). In each 10 people group, about 7 died of liver disease and were under 65 years old.

The proportion of male patients is (70pc) bigger than the number of female patients, but the amount of women suffering from liver disease grew in the youngest age group.

The researches assessed that compared with older generations; people in Ireland are starting to drink at a younger age.