Britons reported to be drinking less, as data shows consumption at record low | Alcohol
Britons are drinking less alcohol than in previous years, according to reports.
The average British adult consumed 10.2 alcoholic drinks a week last year, the lowest figure since data collection began in 1990 and a drop of more than a quarter from the peak of 14 two decades ago, according to figures published in the FT by research firm IWSR.
However, total abstention is not increasing despite the drop in consumption, suggesting that more moderate drinking habits are driving the trend.
“The population is aging and, physiologically, older consumers cannot drink as much,” Marten Lodewijks, president of the IWSR, told the newspaper.
“There are also elements of health consciousness…and the cost of living is rising, so people just can’t afford to ‘drink’ as much.
The latest figures suggest that although people are drinking less than in the past, they are still drinking above the NHS recommended limit of 14 units of alcohol per week.
Ten pints of low strength beer would equal 20 units, while 10 large glasses of wine would total 30 units.
A survey by the charity Drinkaware reveals that almost three quarters (73%) of UK adult drinkers plan to moderate their alcohol consumption over Christmas, while around a quarter (28%) of drinkers intend to drink more over Christmas but plan to reduce their alcohol consumption in the New Year.
Karen Tyrell, chief executive of Drinkaware, said: “With almost three in four of us planning this Christmas, this balanced approach to our festive pleasures is great to see.
“With a few simple tips, we can enjoy our favorite Christmas drinks with friends and family without overindulging. A good first step is to understand your own drinking habits, something you can do by taking the alcohol consumption check on our website.
“Sticking to chief medical officers’ guidelines of no more than 14 units a week, including some drink-free days, can make a big difference. Asking friends and family for help can help you stick to any plan you’ve set, while the growing range of non-alcoholic or alcohol-free options also makes it easier to swap drinks on a night out.”
