Irish people are drinking less -- but gin is surging in popularity, with sales up a third in the last year.
Sales of the juniper-flavoured spirit are surging as the owners of new distilleries look to cash in while they wait for their whiskey to mature.
Whiskey sales also rose by about five per cent in 2018 -- but bar staff are still reaching for vodka first.
It's remained the most popular hard liquor.
But Aoife Clarke from Drinks Industry Ireland says Irish drinkers aren't that fussy.
"What we found is that people who drink spirits tend to float between the categories. We have seen an increase of spirit sales in Ireland but overall alcohol consumption has declined since its peak in 2001."
