Thu, 01 Jun 2006
Nearly a quarter of Brits drink to get drunk
New research released today (01/06/06) by health charity DPP: Developing Patient Partnerships provides a stark insight into the nations drinking habits and with World Cup fever ready to strike the picture could get even more blurry. Almost a quarter (24%) of Brits say sometimes they drink with the sole intention to ‘get drunk’, a figure which rises alarmingly to 59% of 18-24 year olds and 43% of 25-34 year olds.Thirty per cent of us admit to generally drinking too much (38% for men and 23% for women) which has important implications for people physically and socially, with 29% of 18-24 year olds admitting that they forget what they’ve done and over a third (39%) feeling embarrassed about their behaviour.
The hidden costs for businesses may also be considerable as over a quarter (27%) of working Brits have had times when they struggle to do their jobs because they are hungover, rising to a staggering 80% of 18-34 year olds. As the World Cup looms employers can get set to see their workers struggle even more as nearly half (44%) of people in this age group anticipate that they are likely to go over the score and drink more than usual during this period.
DPP is today launching its Alcohol and You campaign to offer people practical advice on enjoying alcohol without overdoing it, to improve their quality of life and avoid the many serious risks associated with drinking too much.
Dr David Wrigley, GP from Lancashire and DPP Chairman said:“Sometimes people may not even be aware that they’re drinking too much. The first step in reducing your risks from too much alcohol is to keep track of how much you are drinking. Cutting down doesn’t have to be particularly onerous as there are simple but effective steps you can take to reduce your alcohol intake. The World Cup for instance is likely to mean people are socialising more so it will be especially important to keep a handle on how much you drink.
“The results are worrying as this means that the numbers are probably a lot higher when you take into account people who are not aware that they are drinking too much. However
" finger wagging is unlikely to help and to some degree is unnecessary. If people are equipped with the knowledge of what dangerous drinking levels are coupled with really practical advice on how to cut down and stay in control of their drinking that will go a long way to ensuring people enjoy a drink without over doing it.”"
Ends
Contact: Rachel Dorban 0207 383 6780 rdorban@bma.org.uk or Pam Prentice 020 7383 6144 pprentice@bma.org.uk
Notes to editors
- ICM Research interviewed a random sample of 1002 adults aged 18+ by telephone between 28th April – 1st May 2006. Interviews were conducted across the country and the results have been weighted to the profile of all adults. ICM is a member of the British Polling Council and abides by its rules. Further information at www.icmresearch.co.uk
- DPP: Developing Patient Partnerships (formerly Doctor Patient Partnership) is a health education charity working with primary care organisations, businesses and the public www.dpp.org.uk
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