Alcohol in Britain: young men are binge-drinking less, but women are binge-drinking more

Research led by Dr Lesley Smith from Oxford Brookes University for the Joseph Rowntree Foundation shows that the proportion of women who binge-drink increased between 1998 and 2006 and is now at 15%.

However, the proportion of 16- to 24-year-old men binge-drinking decreased by 9% since 2000, to 30% in 2006. Researchers also found that whilst fewer children are drinking, those that do drink are drinking much more than they did in the past. The researchers looked at existing evidence on drinking trends in the general population over the last 20 to 30 years. Five trends highlighted are:

• An increase in drinking amongst women

• An increase in drinking among middle-age and older groups

• A recent decrease in drinking among 16-24 year-olds (both sexes but especially men)

• An increase in alcohol consumption amongst children

• An increase in drinking in Northern Ireland compared with the rest of the UK

Researchers found excessive weekly drinking has increased in Northern Ireland compared with Great Britain as a whole. One possible explanation for this is the change in licensing laws in 1996, and the rapid growth in the leisure industry since the peace process began.

Dr Smith commented:

“Much concern has been expressed in recent years about young people’s drinking – and young people bingedrinking in particular. Many people will be surprised to learn that young men’s drinking, including bingedrinking, has gone down in recent years, while middle age and older people’s drinking has increased.”

The full report and Findings: Drinking in the UK:
An exploration of trends by Lesley Smith and David Foxcroft from Oxford Brookes University, is available for free download from: www.jrf.org.uk