The UK is renowned for its ever-evolving binge drinking culture, with alcohol consumption statistics from 2023 revealing that an eye-watering 71.2% of adults in the UK consume alcohol at least once a week.
At the same time, a study carried out by ‘Drink Aware’ found that 27% of Brits who drink alcohol are classed as being binge drinkers, based on their heaviest drinking day of the week.
This level of overindulgence of alcohol is not only having a huge impact on the UK’s healthcare system but also on the mental health and wellbeing of British adults.
But why do people in the UK drink so much? We’ve explored the UK’s drinking culture.
The British pub is at the heart of drinking culture in the UK, with many people gathering there to drink, socialise with friends and family, celebrate special occasions, relax, unwind, and enjoy their favourite tipple.
This glamourised image of the British pub is depicted in the media, movies, and TV shows, and has become a staple part of British drinking culture. After all, for British adults, when the clock strikes five on a Friday afternoon, heading to the pub signals the start of the weekend. For many, this is part and parcel of their weekly routine.
There’s no denying that alcohol is a fundamental part of socialising in many different cultures. It’s often present when times are good and when times are bad.
However, how and when alcohol is consumed varies from country to country, with different cultures having different traditions, customs, and rules.
The UK is renowned for its appreciation of alcohol, with Brits drinking an average of 9.7 litres of alcohol per year. This equates to 108 bottles of wine!
Brits love to get together in bars, clubs, restaurants and pubs to celebrate successes with friends and family, watch sport, reflect on their working week, discuss politics, or simply unwind.
Here’s a look at some of the different drinking cultures adopted by the UK:
Social drinking is also known as “low-risk drinking”. This level of alcohol consumption involves drinking less than seven drinks per week, with no more than three per day for women and no more than 14 per week for men.
Binge drinking refers to consuming a large amount of alcohol in a short space of time.
Binge drinking is considered to be incredibly dangerous, as the human body can only process roughly one unit of alcohol an hour, and this amount can be even less for some people.
If you drink a large amount of alcohol in a short space of time, the resulting high levels of alcohol in your bloodstream can stop your body from functioning as it normally would, leading to a higher risk of you having an accident, developing alcohol poisoning, or experiencing other short and long-term health concerns.
According to Gov.uk: “National Institute for Health and Care Excellence ( NICE ) defines harmful drinking as a pattern of alcohol consumption that causes health problems, including psychological problems such as depression, alcohol-related accidents or physical illness such as acute pancreatitis.”
Harmful drinking can induce a number of debilitating medical conditions, including the following:
2023 statistics have revealed that around 71.2% of adults in the UK consume alcohol at least once a week, with only 12.5% of adults in the UK declaring themselves to be teetotal.
At ANA, we work closely with our clients to help rebuild their lives, to gain confidence and self-worth and to believe that they can live a healthy, responsible, and productive life, free of addictive substances.
Contact ANA today, our friendly team is on hand and ready to help.
