Prison alcohol seizures nearly triple during lockdown

Prison alcohol seizures nearly triple during lockdown

The amount of illicit homemade alcohol seized in Irish prisons nearly tripled in the first half of 2020, according to new figures.

A total of 541 litres of alcohol were seized between 1 January 2020 and 11 July 2020, compared to 395 litres for the whole of 2019, The Irish Times reports.

The figures, which suggest an increase in alcohol consumption by prisoners during the COVID-19 pandemic and associated restrictions, were released to the paper under a Freedom of Information request.

The largest amount (190 litres) was seized in Mountjoy, followed by 133 litres in Limerick.

There were 653 drug seizures over the same period.

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