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Fifth of high earners drink at least five times a week, figures show Younger people drink less but binge when they do, figures show
(about 3 hours later)
Almost one in five high earners drink alcohol on at least five days a week, according to the Office for National Statistics (ONS). Younger people are less likely to drink, but when they do are more likely to binge drink, according to new data, which also shows that nearly one in five of Britain’s highest earners drinks at least five days a week.
Those with an annual income of at least £40,000 were twice as likely (18% of adults) to be frequent drinkers compared to those with an annual income of less than £10,000 (8%). The drinking habits of Britons are highlighted in the latest figures released by the Office for National Statistics, which also show that more than half of people (58%) – 28.9 million – drink some alcohol in a typical week.
But the number of people regularly drinking has dropped in the last 10 years – and the proportion of younger people reporting that they drink has declined. Of those, almost one in 10 (9%) – or 2.5 million – drinks the recommended weekly limit of alcohol in a single day, the data suggests.
The latest statistics on alcohol use in 2014 published on Tuesday reveal that almost three in five adults (58%) drank some alcohol in the week before the ONS interview, which is down from 64% in 2005. Wales (14%) and Scotland (13%) had a higher percentage of these drinkers, who on their heaviest drinking day exceeded the equivalent of six pints of beer or 1.4 bottles of wine.
A higher percentage of drinkers in Wales and Scotland drink more than the recommended weekly amount of 14 units in one day, the equivalent of six pints of beer or 1.4 bottles of 13%-strength wine. Almost three in five Britons drink some alcohol in a typical week. But it seems some are curbing their alcohol intake, with the proportion of those drinking each week dropping to 58% from 64% in 2005. The drop has been less sharp for the middle-aged.
Across the UK as a whole, 2.5 million people have admitted to drinking more than the weekly amount on their heaviest drinking day. Wine is the most popular drink, according to the 2014 survey published on Tuesday.
Overall, wine is the most popular choice of alcoholic drink. Related: Teetotaller numbers rise in UK with one in five adults not drinking
Young people were less likely to have drunk alcohol in the previous week than older groups, with less than half of 16 to 24-year-olds reporting doing so, compared with 66% of 45 to 64-year-olds. Moreover, for the younger group, the proportion who had drunk alcohol had fallen from 60% in 2005, whereas there had been only a small decline for the older group, down from 69% over the same period. However, those younger people who did drink were more likely than any other group to drink more than 14 units in one day – 17% of the 16 to 24-year-olds, compared with 11% for the next highest group, the 25 to 44-year-olds. Those aged between 16 and 24 years were less likely to have drunk alcohol in the week previous to the survey than older groups, with less than half doing so compared with 66% of 45- to 64-year-olds. However, those who did drink were more likely than any other group to drink more than 14 units in one day – 17% of 16- to 24-year-olds compared with 11% for the next highest group, 25- to 44-year-olds.
Of all people that drank alcohol. Almost half (45%) said they drank more than 4.67 units (around two pints of 4% beer or two 175ml glasses of 13% wine) on their heaviest day, one third of the recommended weekly limit. An ONS statistician, Jamie Jenkins, said: “It’s clear from these figures that although there are now more people, especially younger ones, who don’t drink alcohol at all, there is still a significant group of other people who are drinking well in excess of the latest health advice.”
Men were more likely than women to drink, and consume higher amounts. In the week previous to the survey, 64% of men had drunk alcohol, with over half (52%) drinking more than a third of the recommended weekly limit on one day. This compared to 53% of women having had alcohol the previous week with 37% exceeding one third of the limit on their heaviest day. Almost one in five high earners drinks alcohol at least five days a week. Those with an annual income of £40,000 were more than twice as likely (at 18%) to be frequent drinkers than those earning less than £10,000.
The highest percentages who had drunk alcohol in the previous week were in the south-east (62%) and south-west (62%). London had the lowest percentage, at 51%, followed by Wales (53%). However, Wales also had the highest percentage of people who had drunk more than the new weekly guideline in a single day (14%), followed by Scotland (13%). Almost four-fifths of high earners drank in a typical week. Three in 10 people in the lowest income bracket were teetotal, compared wity one-tenth of high earners. More women than men on lower incomes drank, making up 67%. More men than women in the highest bracket had had a drink in the week before the survey, making up 77% of the total.
ONS statisician Jamie Jenkins said: “It’s clear from these figures that although there are now more people, especially younger ones, who don’t drink alcohol at all, there is still a significant group of other people who are drinking well in excess of the latest health advice.” Men were more likely than women to drink and consume higher amounts. In the week previous to the survey, 64% of men had drunk alcohol, with more than half (52%) drinking more than a third of the recommended weekly limit on one day. This compared with 53% of women having had alcohol the previous week, with 37% exceeding one-third of the limit on their heaviest day.
Related: Weekly alcohol limit cut to 14 units in UK for men
The highest percentages who had drunk alcohol in the previous week were in the south-east (62%) and the south-west (62%). London had the lowest percentage, at 51%, followed by Wales (53%).
The highest number of teetotals in England lived in London and the West Midlands, with the ONS stating the possible reason being that these areas are the most ethnically diverse. London was the only area where more than one-quarter of people described themselves as teetotal. Fewer people in the south-west were teetotal than anywhere else in England, with just 17% of people saying they did not drink at all.
Almost half (47%) of drinkers said wine, including champagne, was their usual tipple, i on their heaviest drinking day. This was followed by beer, stout, lager or cider in 40% of cases, which were also the drinks of choice for the heaviest drinkers who exceeded 14 units in one day. Just one in a hundred chose alcopops.
The new government advice to adults is not to exceed 14 units a week spread over three days.
Sarah Toule, the head of health information at World Cancer Research Fund, said: “It is very concerning that millions of Brits are exceeding their weekly drinking limit in just one day. Drinking alcohol increases the risk of a number of different cancers. In fact, 24,000 cancer cases could be avoided every year in the UK if everyone stopped drinking alcohol.”