• More than half (56%) of UK drinkers feel their country has an unhealthy relationship with alcohol which rises to 66% in Scotland, 63% in Northern Ireland, 56% in England but falls to 38% in Wales.

• But only one in ten drinkers (10%) feel they personally have an unhealthy relationship with alcohol.

• Concern is most likely to be for a friend's drinking, with 36% of those with a concern indicating it relates to a friend, rising to 44% among men.

More than half of UK drinkers (56%) feel that their country has an unhealthy relationship with alcohol according to the Drinkaware Annual Monitor, published today (Thursday 30 November). The figure rises to 66% in Scotland, 63% in Northern Ireland, 56% in England but falls to 38% in Wales.

Although many drinkers believe their country as a whole has an unhealthy relationship with alcohol, when asked about their own or, family and friends, only one in ten felt it was a problem (10% & 12%). While one in five UK drinkers (20%) said they drank more than the UK Chief Medical Officers guidelines of 14 units per week.

The Drinkaware Monitor 2023 is the annual ‘state of the nation' survey conducted for Drinkaware by YouGov, that provides an insight into the drinking habits of the UK. This year’s Monitor looked at how we talk about alcohol and have honest conversations.

The Monitor asked 10,473 people from across the UK about their perceptions, and those surveyed highlighted their concerns about how alcohol is seen in society.

Karen Tyrell, Chief Executive of the charity Drinkaware said: “We need to be more open and honest about our own relationship with alcohol and talk more about our drinking habits. Most people think the country has an unhealthy relationship with alcohol, but it is not them, it is someone else.

“There has never been a better time to change, and learn from how we talk about mental health, to make people feel more comfortable talking about their drinking.

“One way to understand how much your drinking is by doing the Drinkaware Drinking Check. This short quiz is a quick and easy way to find out if you’re putting your health at risk and can also encourage a conversation.”

The report found that three in five (59%) UK adults do not think our society is understanding of people with drinking problems, rising to 65% in Scotland.

When it comes to people who are concerned about someone else’s drinking, one in five (20%) haven’t done anything, 53% have spoken to them about it, 43% have made a comment about it to them, and 24% have encouraged them to seek help or treatment.

Having a conversation is more effective in helping people take action about their own drinking, rather than making a comment. Only 32% of cases resulted in action when a comment was made, compared to 44% when a conversation was initiated.

The Monitor focus groups revealed that conversations can have an impact on an individual's drinking, but this can take time and often happens after several conversations. Their effectiveness depends on the drinker's openness to the issues with their drinking.

The Monitor is the only UK-wide nationally representative survey that dives into peoples’ drinking habits and behaviour. It also found:

• UK adults appear to be drinking less frequently, with those drinking alcohol less often than weekly rising to 39% compared to 33% in 2019.

• Those drinking at home alone at least once a week is down from 24% in 2021 to 18% in 2023.

• Only 29% of adults would feel very comfortable having a conversation with family and 24% with friends about their drinking, compared to 45% with a partner.

• Women feel most uncomfortable about having this conversation, with a third (33%) not very comfortable or not comfortable at all starting a conversation about a friend's drinking (vs. 25% of men).

• Wine and beer are the most commonly consumed drinks among UK drinkers, approximately three in ten UK drinkers always or often drink wine (32%) and beer (31%).

• Pubs in rural areas are more likely to get support from their local community (22% vs 14% in towns and cities).

People can learn more about their drinking habits and get free tips and advice by doing the Drinkaware Drinking Check. This short quiz helps you find out if your drinking is putting your health at serious risk, visit www.drinkaware.co.uk

A full copy of The Monitor 2023 report is available to download for free at (https://www.drinkaware.co.uk/facts/monitor-2023-hub)

Regional copies of the release can be accessed here: (https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1YUbAdsjlgGf9L9Oz9cze502Xg19gc9d3?usp=sharing)

All videos can be accessed here: (https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1V0s7xFjXjEhPh8R-r9KdPJHd3i3YcMv6)

Individual videos can be viewed here:

• Conversations about alcohol (1:09) - (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F6wz9_cTnrM)

• How do the public feel about having conversations about alcohol? (2:14) - (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Tuda5haYtXk)

• What kind of relationship does the UK have with drinking? (1:28) - (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T-XOsODob3A)

• How comfortable are we talking about alcohol? (1:51) - (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hd0i2Ezs5-w)

• How can we have better conversations about a loved one's drinking? (1:47) - (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A0y6312YJx8)

Notes to Editors

• Drinkaware’s CEO Karen Tyrell, who brings over 20 years of experience across health and social care, is available for interview to discuss the findings of the report.

• Drinkaware is committed to ensure our work is informed by up-to-date evidence on UK drinking attitudes and behaviours. Every year, Drinkaware commissions a representative survey to understand the UK’s drinking behaviours and motivations. A core subset of questions is included in the questionnaire every year to understand changes in key variables over time. Other questions are developed to reflect that year’s theme. Since 2017, the Monitors have been conducted by YouGov on behalf of Drinkaware, and before that by Ipsos Mori (2009-14). Where appropriate, findings from the 2023 Monitor have been reported in the context of those from previous waves.

• The 2023 Drinkaware Monitor interviewed a UK wide sample of 10,473 adults aged 18 to 85, including 6,948 in England, 1,302 in Wales, 1,565 in Scotland and 658 in Northern Ireland. Fieldwork was undertaken between 6th - 25th July 2023. The survey was carried out online. Using data from the Office for National Statistics, the results were weighted to be representative of the UK adult population according to age, gender, social grade, region, and IMD decile. The sampling and weighting process is exactly consistent with that used in previous Drinkaware Monitors. When compared to population-level sales data, self-reported surveys typically underestimate population alcohol consumption by between 30% and 60% (Kehoe et al., 2012 - (https://pophealthmetrics.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/1478-7954-10-6)).

• The qualitative research comprised a total of 29 individuals (via four online focus groups and ten individual in-depth conversations conducted over an online video platform). The data collection period spanned from 2nd to 16th October 2023. To ensure a diverse representation, minimum quotas were established for gender, age, ethnicity, and socio-economic group. Recruitment efforts encompassed all regions of the UK, including England, Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland.

• The Chief Medical Officers' guideline for both men and women states 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's best to spread your drinking evenly over three or more days. If you have one or two heavy drinking episodes a week, you increase your risk of long-term illness and injury.

 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 a week.

• Drinkaware is the UK’s leading alcohol charity which aims to reduce alcohol harm. Founded in 2006 by the UK Government, the devolved administrations, and representatives of the alcohol industry. Drinkaware is funded by unrestricted voluntary donations from 123 organisations. These include UK alcohol producers, retailers, supermarkets, venues, restaurant groups and sports associations.

• Drinkaware provides impartial, evidence-based information, advice, and practical resources; raising awareness of alcohol and its harms and working collaboratively with partners. www.drinkaware.co.uk

Contacts:

Elizabeth Read - Senior Media & Communications Officer - Tel: 07884 513873 - Email: eread@drinkaware.co.uk

Matt Jackson - Head of Media & Communications - Tel: 07814 497908 - Email: mjackson@drinkaware.co.uk

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