Data on adult drinking habits has been released as part of the new Opinions and Lifestyle Survey (OPN). The figures show recent trends continuing, including a small decline in adults who drank in the last week, down to 58% in 2012 compared to 60% in 2011.
Overall consumption has been declining since 2004, but rose significantly for the four decades prior (see IAS 2013 factsheet). However alcohol-related hospital admissions have continued to climb, indicating a lag effect between population consumption and related long term heath conditions. Some health experts have suggested consumption may start to increase again as the economy recovers.
The OPN Statistical bulletin: Drinking Habits Amongst Adults, 2012 (pdf) shows:
- In 2012, 58% of adults in Great Britain drank alcohol at least once in the last week before being interviewed.
- Young people (16-24) were more likely to have drunk very heavily (more than 12 units for men and 9 units for women) at least once during the week (27%), with similar proportions for men (26%) and women (28%). Only 3% of those aged 65 and over were very heavy drinkers.
- Very heavy drinkers were five times more likely than other drinkers to have drunk strong beer/stout/lager/cider, and more than twice as likely to have drunk spirits, on their heaviest drinking day in the week before interview.
- Smokers (25%) were more than twice as likely as non-smokers (11%) to have drunk very heavily at least once during the week.
See here for an infographic on the key findings or the reference tables.
How is drinking trends data going to be reported now?
The Office for National Statistics (ONS) now release the OPN based on a new data collection method. Drinking patterns data were previously included in the General Lifestyle Survey (GLF) formerly known as the General Household Survey (GHS), which ran from 1971-2012.
It is hoped the annual statistics on alcohol for England will continue to be released, bringing together the key health related alcohol data. However an announcement is expected this month following a consultation to cut various statistical reports including some alcohol surveys.
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