Retailers have recorded a 58% increase in the volume of alcohol sales week on week this week, compared to this time last year.
Increases of between 22% and 30%t have been reported in earlier weeks of the Covid-19 restrictions.
It comes as a study in the UK found 20% of people say they are drinking more since the Covid-19 lockdown began.
Eunan McKinney, of Alcohol Action Ireland, says since the pubs closed it was inevitable there would be some increased buying but 58% is higher than expected.
"We don't know whether people are necessarily [drinking more]," he said.
"Obviously all pubs are closed and licensed premises are closed, therefore I suppose there may be some degree of displacement of activity. At 58% it certainly would be up and away and beyond [what was expected]."
Responding to new research by Nielsen/Checkout, Drinkaware's CEO Sheena Horgan, said:
"Drinkaware is urging people to get to know the low-risk weekly guidelines. As the national charity working to prevent and reduce alcohol misuse in Ireland, there is no denying that Covid-19 isolation and physical distancing can lead to feelings of stress or anxiety, which is why being mindful of how much and why we are drinking is so important right now.
"There are positive signs of a shift, with almost 70,000 pages in our Alcohol and Covid-19 hub on drinkaware.ie viewed in April so far.
"It’s encouraging that more people are proactively seeking information and supports to understand their drinking habits and make changes to drink less or cut out alcohol entirely. So let’s keep going, and explore healthier ways to cope with anxiety, stress and boredom to protect mental and physical wellbeing in these extraordinary times and into the future."
