Alcohol misuse: tackling the UK epidemic - London

BMA Board of Science
per week, and women 12.2 units, compared with 17.8 units and 6.1 units respectively among
those in households with an income of £200 or less. 11
No significant variation in average weekly
consumption according to earnings has been found among those in full-time employment. 11
National and regional variations in alcohol consumption in the UK
The patterns of alcohol consumption in the UK are comparable across the devolved nations;
however, slight variations do exist between the different countries. According to the GHS 2006,
average weekly consumption was higher in England (13.7 units) and Wales (13.5 units) than in
Scotland (11.6 units). 11
Consumption among men was lower in Scotland (16.3 units) than in
England (18.9 units) and Wales (19.9 units). 11
In women, consumption in both Wales (7.8 units)
and Scotland (7.8 units) was lower than in England (9.2 units). 11
In 2006, men and women in
England and Wales were more likely to have drunk on at least five days in the previous week
compared to those living in Scotland. 11
There was no statistically significant difference in the
proportions of men and women exceeding recommended UK guidelines or drinking heavily
between the devolved nations. 11
All national surveys have consistently found the highest levels of binge drinking and drinking
above recommended guidelines to be in the northern regions of England – in particular in
11, 15, 40
Yorkshire and Humberside, the North East and the North West – and lowest in London. The
relatively low levels of alcohol consumption in London are largely explained by its high proportion
of people in ethnic minority groups who abstain from alcohol consumption due to an ascetic
element, or an inherent belief, that is present in some religions. In Scotland, the SHS 2003 found
there to be little variation in weekly consumption of alcohol between NHS Board areas. 12
Trends in alcohol misuse
Over the last decade there has been considerable media interest in the rising levels of alcohol
misuse in the UK. During the 1990s, the prevalence of alcohol misuse increased among both men
4, 10
and women, and in particular in the 16 to 24 age group. This upward trend was particularly
marked among young women to the extent that consumption among this group is now the highest
in Europe. 4
A 2000 survey found that eight per cent of women aged 18 to 24 had consumed at
least 35 units of alcohol in the previous week. 4
Another survey found that 38 per cent of women in
their 20s in the UK had consumed six or more units on at least one day in the week. 41
Analysis of recent data from alcohol use surveys suggests that while the proportion of individuals
misusing alcohol remains high, the upward trend in alcohol misuse among men and women in the UK
may have peaked. According to the GHS 2006 f
, the proportion of men and women in Britain
exceeding recommended daily guidelines on at least one day in the previous week remained relatively
g, 11
constant between 1998 and 2004 (see Table 1). Between 2004 and 2006, there was a fall among
men from 39 per cent to 33 per cent, while the proportion of women remained at 20 per cent. 11
A similar pattern of change was found in the proportions drinking heavily on at least one day in the
previous week (see Table 2). 11
These data vary considerably among the different age groups which
makes it difficult to identify an overall trend. In the 16 to 24 age group, there has been a downward
trend since 2003 in the proportion of men drinking above recommended daily guidelines and drinking
heavily. 11
A similar downward trend has occurred among women aged 16 to 24 since 2002. 11
f For comparative purposes, the GHS 2006 data on trends discussed in this section are those derived using the original method of
conversion to units. For further information see General household survey 2006 (Office for National Statistics, 2008).
g Data on the proportion of individuals exceeding recommended daily guidelines are only available from 1998 onwards as questions
relating to the maximum daily amount of alcohol consumed in the last week were not included in the GHS prior to this year.
Alcohol misuse: tackling the UK epidemic 19