Irish women are having an average of three alcoholic drinks a day.

A new global study shows females here are now seventh in the world for the amount of alcohol they drink on a daily basis.

Irish women now rank higher than men in a global league table of alcohol consumption.

According to a new study by researchers at the University of Washington women here come seventh in the world for the amount the drink every day.

Irish men have around four and half drinks a day - but don't make it into the top ten male consumers.

The report which is published in the Lancet Medical Journal warns that women may think that having one glass of wine isn't harmful - but they are actually pouring themselves three measures.

Noting that alcohol is associated with 2.8 million deaths every year around the world, it warns that there is no safe level of drinking.

The study says just one drink a day can slightly increase the chances of contracting 23 alcohol-related health problems.