Alcohol misuse: tackling the UK epidemic - London

BMA Board of Science
in all age groups, but was most evident among those aged 16 to 24. 11
The proportion of men
aged 16 to 24 who drank more than 21 units a week fell from 41 per cent in 2000 to 26 per cent
in 2006, while the proportion of women who drank more than 14 units a week fell from 33 per
cent to 19 per cent respectively. 11
Between 2002 and 2006, the average weekly consumption in
the 16 to 24 age group fell from 21.5 to 16.4 units in men and from 14.1 to 9.0 units in
women. 11
Since 2002, there has been a slight decline in the proportion of men drinking more than
50 units a week on average, but no significant change in the proportion of women drinking more
than 35 units. 11
According to the SHS 2003, the proportion of Scottish men aged 16 to 64 who
drank over 21 units per week on average decreased from 33 per cent in 1995 to 29 per cent in
2003. 12
The number of Scottish women aged 16 to 24 drinking over 14 units per week on average
increased from 13 per cent in 1995 to 17 per cent in 2003. 12
Figure 6 – proportion of men drinking more than 21 units a week, and women drinking
more than 14 units a week: Great Britain 1988 to 2006 h
Percentage
35
30
25
20
15
10
5
0
1988 1992 1994 1996 1998 2000 2001 2002 2005 2006
Source: General household survey 2006 (Office for National Statistics, 2008)
It is important to note that it is not yet possible to determine whether these recent trends in
alcohol consumption are genuine long-term changes in drinking habits. It may be that there is an
increased tendency to under-report consumption due to the recent extensive publicity about binge
drinking and the dangers of heavy consumption. Data from future years will provide a clearer
indication of any long-term trends.
Alcohol misuse: tackling the UK epidemic 21
Year
h Data for 1988 to 1998 are unweighted; data for 1998 onwards are weighted.
Men
Women