NHS GP and TV presenter Dr Zoe Williams has teamed up with UK alcohol charity Drinkaware to help people understand their drinking habits and make informed choices, as the charity’s new research suggests that alcohol remains a blind spot for many.

Across the country, people are becoming increasingly focused on understanding their health, tracking everything from steps and sleep patterns to calories and heart rate. Recent research shows that nearly eight in ten (79%) UK adults actively monitor aspects of their health[1], and this can encourage positive behavioural changes. Studies link the use of activity trackers to around 1,800 additional steps a day and increased physical activity[2].

However, while people are taking important steps to understand metrics such as sleep, exercise and heart health, new research from Drinkaware finds that only 13% of UK drinkers are currently recording how much alcohol they are consuming.

The findings suggest that many may not consider or be aware of the role alcohol plays within the wider picture of their health and wellbeing. Just 15% of drinkers report being concerned about the impact their drinking could have on their health. This only rises to 36% among people who have reported drinking above the UK Chief Medical Officers’ low risk drinking guidelines of 14 units a week, despite NHS warnings that regularly exceeding these guidelines can increase the risk of long-term health harms[3]. Fourteen units is equal to around six pints of beer or six medium glasses of wine.

Almost a quarter (24%) of drinkers who are unconcerned about alcohol’s impact on their health say this is because they do other things which outweigh any negative effects of drinking, such as exercising regularly or eating a healthy diet.

Dr Zoe Williams, NHS GP and TV presenter, says: “Patients often come to me because they’re struggling with their sleep, feeling constantly tired or wondering why they’re not feeling their best. What’s striking is that many are already doing lots of the right things. They’re exercising regularly and eating well, but alcohol isn’t on their radar.

“By learning more about your drinking and exploring the choices available to you, you can find an approach that fits your lifestyle. Finding your balance with alcohol isn’t about giving something up or missing out. It’s about discovering what you could gain from making small changes that work for you. For some people, that might mean more energy, better sleep, or simply feeling more in control of their choices.”

Drinkaware’s new research finds that despite more than eight million people (19%) drinking above the recommended low risk guidelines, 42% of this group don’t think there is anything they need to change about their drinking. Among those who have not cut back on their drinking in the past year, over a third (34%) say it has never crossed their mind to do so.

However, among those who have cut back, many report improvements in their health and wellbeing. Over a third (35%) feel healthier, while 31% report sleeping better. Meanwhile, 23% say they have lost weight, a fifth (21%) are in a better frame of mind and 17% report having more energy.

Lee l’Anson, 49, from Otley in Yorkshire, used to drink around 15 to 20 pints a week but through working with Drinkaware has begun to pay closer attention to his drinking habits and the impact alcohol has on his life. He says: “At my age, you risk serious health complications down the line if you don’t look after yourself. I see some of my friends who are a couple of years older, with similar active lifestyles to me, and their health problems make me want to do better. Now those changes also include reducing my alcohol intake, as before this, I never knew how much of an effect it had on my health and fitness.

“It's not about cutting out drinking completely but being honest and understanding yourself. I would say I had a couple of drinks, then looked at my bank account and saw I had eight. By tracking my intake, I have now come to realise how much those few pints were each time and how much it was really impacting things like my sleep, energy and overall wellbeing.”

Karen Tyrell, Chief Executive of Drinkaware, says: "It's encouraging to see so many people taking an active interest in their health and using data to better understand their wellbeing. Yet alcohol is often missing from that conversation, despite the role it can play in our sleep, energy, mood and overall health. At Drinkaware, we want to help people better understand their relationship with alcohol and give them the practical tools and support to find a balance that works for them.

“It's not about being perfect. It's about understanding your habits, exploring your options and making choices that work for you. Whether that's choosing an alcohol-free alternative, taking a pause between drinks, setting small goals or simply becoming more mindful of your drinking, small changes can make a meaningful difference over time."

To help people better understand their drinking habits and find their balance, Drinkaware offers a range of free tools and resources on its website. Visit https://www.drinkaware.co.uk/find-your-balance.

Download images and visual assets here: https://www.swisstransfer.com/dl/01a09f06-a230-73cf-ab74-e9d1b9ca8ddb

For more information and interviews, contact:

· Beth Davies: beth@thisisstand.com | 07551 579 135

· Lewi Stokes: lewi@thisisstand.com | 07853 436 863 | drinkaware@thisisstand.com

About the research

The research comes from the Drinkaware Monitor, the only annual UK-wide nationally representative survey that provides an insight into the UK’s drinking habits and behaviours.

All figures, unless otherwise stated, are from YouGov Plc. Total sample size was 7,210 adults. Fieldwork was undertaken between 26th May - 22nd June 2026. The survey was carried out online. The figures have been weighted by age, gender, social grade, region, and devolved nation and are representative of all UK adults (aged 18 to 85).

Any references to the proportion of people drinking above the UK Chief Medical Officers’ low risk drinking guidelines are calculated from the number of units that respondents reported drinking in the week before completing the survey.

About Drinkaware

Drinkaware is the UK's leading alcohol charity which aims to reduce alcohol harm. We achieve this by providing impartial, evidence-based information, advice and practical resources; raising awareness of alcohol and its harms; and working collaboratively with partners. www.drinkaware.co.uk

Founded in 2006 by the UK Government, the devolved administrations and the alcohol industry, Drinkaware is funded by unrestricted voluntary donations from more than 120 organisations. These include UK alcohol producers, retailers, supermarkets, venues, restaurant groups and sports associations.

Drinking guidelines

In the UK, binge drinking is defined as consuming eight or more units of alcohol in a single session for men, and six or more units in a single session for women.

The Chief Medical Officers’ guidelines for both men and women is that:

· To keep health risks from alcohol to a low level it is safest not to drink more than 14 units a week on a regular basis.

· If you regularly drink as much as 14 units per week, it is best to spread your drinking evenly over 3 or more days. If you have one or two heavy drinking episodes a week, you increase your risks of death from long term illness and from accidents and injuries.

· The risk of developing a range of health problems (including cancers of the mouth, throat and breast) increases the more you drink on a regular basis.

· If you wish to cut down the amount you drink, a good way to help achieve this is to have several drink-free days each week.

· If you are pregnant or think you could become pregnant, the safest approach is not to drink alcohol at all, to keep risks to your baby to a minimum.

· Drinking in pregnancy can lead to long-term harm to the baby, with the more you drink the greater the risk.

The Chief Medical Officers’ advice for men and women who wish to keep their short term health risks from single occasion drinking episodes to a low level is to reduce them by:

· Limiting the total amount of alcohol you drink on any single occasion

· Drinking more slowly, drinking with food, and alternating with water

· Planning ahead to avoid problems e.g. by making sure you can get home safely or that you have people you trust with you.

References

[1] https://link.springer.com/article/10.1186/s13690-026-02035-6

[2] https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/35868813

[3] https://www.nhs.uk/live-well/alcohol-advice/the-risks-of-drinking-too-much

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