Alcohol misuse: tackling the UK epidemic - London

BMA Board of Science
In relation to ethnicity, alcohol consumption above recommended daily guidelines occurs most
commonly among individuals of White origin and those of mixed origin. According to the GHS
2005, drinking above recommended daily guidelines on at least one day in the previous week was
found to be most common among individuals of Mixed White and Asian origin (35%), Mixed
White and Black Caribbean origin (33%), White British origin (31%) and the Other White ethnic
groups (28%). 10
Individuals of Pakistani (3%) and Bangladeshi (1%) origin were least likely to have
drunk above recommended daily guidelines on at least one day in the previous week. 10
A similar
pattern was observed with heavy drinking. The proportion of individuals reporting drinking in excess
of recommended guidelines on one day in the previous week was highest among individuals of
White and Asian mixed ethnicity (21%), those of White and Black Caribbean mixed ethnicity (18%),
and those from the White British (16%) and the Other White (14%) ethic groups. 10
Patterns of alcohol misuse among lesbian, gay and bisexual (LGB) people are complex and varied.
Surveys such as the GHS and the SHS do not incorporate questions relating to sexual orientation
making it difficult to analyse patterns and trends of alcohol misuse among LGB people in the UK.
International evidence provides a mixed picture for the relationship between sexual orientation and
the risk of alcohol problems. Several studies have found lesbians and gay men to be more likely to
use and misuse alcohol compared to heterosexual men and women; 17-26
however, other studies
have not found differences by sexual orientation. 27-32
Results from a number of small-scale studies
in the UK have found higher levels of alcohol use and misuse among LGB people. 33-36
As with
sexual orientation, the relationship between patterns of alcohol consumption and disability is not
considered within surveys such as the GHS and SHS. People with mental health problems are at an
increased risk of alcohol misuse problems and vice versa. A number of psychiatric conditions are
associated with alcohol dependence d
including major depression, dysthymia, mania, hypomania,
panic disorder, phobias, generalised anxiety disorder, personality disorders, any drug-use disorder,
schizophrenia, and suicide. 37
There has been very little research into the prevalence of alcohol use
and misuse among people with learning disabilities. There is some evidence that alcohol-related
health problems are uncommon in people with learning disabilities, 38
and they are less likely to drink
alcohol than people without learning disabilities. 39
Socio-economic factors and alcohol consumption
The link between alcohol consumption and socio-economic factors is an important consideration.
Individuals in employment are more likely to drink frequently compared to those who are
unemployed. The GHS 2006 found that among men aged 16 to 64, those in employment were
most likely to have drunk alcohol during the previous week (76%) compared with those who were
unemployed (54%) and those who were economically inactive e
(59%). 11
For women aged 16 to
64, 65 per cent who were working, 54 per cent of unemployed, and 47 per cent of those who
were economically inactive had drunk alcohol in the previous week. 11
The GHS 2006 found that
working men (47%) were more likely than unemployed men (37%) and the economically inactive
(32%) to have drunk more than the recommended amount of over four units on one day. 11
For
women, those in employment were almost twice as likely as those who were economically inactive
to have drunk heavily on at least one day in the previous week. 11
In Scotland, the SHS 2003 found
that the proportion of men and women consuming more than the recommended daily guidelines
d The terms alcohol dependence syndrome, alcoholism and alcohol abuse are often used interchangeably in common usage.
Please refer to the glossary for an explanation of these terms.
e ‘Economically inactive’ is defined according to the International Labour Organisation as individuals who are not in work, and
who do not want a job, have not sought employment in the last four weeks and are not available to start employment in
the next two weeks.
Alcohol misuse: tackling the UK epidemic 17