Losing sleep? Wake up and blame the coffee

HEALTH experts are urging Ireland to wake up and smell the coffee – but not literally, as they believe the caffeine drink is playing havoc with the nation’s sleep patterns.

Ireland has become a nation of coffeeholics, according to a new report, which warns about the effects the morning favourite is having on our sleep.

New figures show that our consumption of coffee – both freshly ground and instant coffee – has more than doubled in the last decade to 4,500 tonnes of the black stuff in 2017.

Ready-to-drink coffee served in petrol stations and shops all over the country has also more than trebled since 2007 – from 60,000 litres to 197,000 litres last year.

The Euromonitor Report on the consumption of Better For You foods in Ireland noted that caffeine consumption is expected to become ‘a growing concern for public health authorities’ here.

It noted that caffeine drinks and products have started to attract negative publicity.

‘The massive increase in the number of Irish consumers seeking medical treatment for sleep disorders can be partially attributed to a huge rise in the amount of caffeine being consumed on a daily basis,’ noted the report.

‘The public health authorities have advised that all drinks containing caffeine must be more explicitly labelled, including hot drinks sold off trade.’

It added that reduced-caffeine hot drinks are expected to become more popular.

In the RTÉ documentary Awake, The Science Of Sleep, Dr Pixie McKenna reveals the serious health complications that can arise from not getting enough shut-eye. Four out of ten Irish people get six hours or less sleep on an average weekday while women are more likely than men to struggle with snoozing.

The Euromonitor figures showed a staggering increase in coffee consumption in Ireland thanks to the café culture which has been adopted in the country.

The figures revealed that Irish people splashed out over €128million last year on coffee – which is more than double what the nation spent on the popular pick-me-up in 2007, just over €57million.

When it comes to cups of fresh coffee sold in shops and service stations nationwide, the amount of coffee has nearly tripled – and the volume of ready-to-drink tea has gone up by more than 75% since 2007.

Lattes, Americanos and espressos are all part of the new lingo – and have replaced the traditional cup of instant coffee that was more popular in the 20th century.

Since George Clooney became the face of Nespresso a decade ago, the world has gone crazy for coffee machines and the Hollywood heart-throb is credited with popularising the gadget.

Finland is the biggest nation of coffee drinkers in the world, followed by Sweden, Slovenia and the Netherlands. Ireland is 52nd.