Consumption

• Units are a simple way of expressing the quantity of pure alcohol in a drink, offering a standardised comparison of the volume of alcohol (ABV) between alcoholic beverages.
• In the UK, one unit is equal to eight grams of pure alcohol, which is also equivalent to ten millilitres of pure ethanol (alcohol). The number of grams that make up a unit varies between countries.
• Alcohol takes roughly an hour for the average adult to process in the body (although there are many varying factors which mean all drinkers process alcohol differently).

What is a unit of alcohol? by The Institute of Alcohol Studies

• The UK’s Chief Medical Officers’ low risk guidelines state that you are safest not to drink regularly more than 14 units per week, to keep health risks from alcohol to a low level.
• If you drink as much as 14 units in a week, it is advised to spread this evenly over three days or more. If you wish to cut down the amount you are drinking, a good way to help achieve this is to have several drink-free days each week.
• If you are pregnant or planning a pregnancy, the safest approach is not to drink alcohol at all, to keep risks to your baby to a minimum. (UK Gov, 2016)

• The UK’s Chief Medical Officers’ guidelines classify drinking up to 14 units in a week as ‘low or moderate risk’.
• 24% of English, 17% of Welsh, 22% of Scottish, and 16% of Northern Irish people consume alcohol at an increasing and higher risk, meaning that they drink more than 14 units in a week.
• Among drinkers, 30% of English, 20% of Welsh, 27% of Scottish, and 21% of Northern drinkers consume over 14 units a week.

What proportion of drinkers drink above the low risk guidelines? by The Institute of Alcohol Studies

How many drinkers consume above the guidelines? by The Institute of Alcohol Studies

• Consumption per adult (aged 15 years and over) first hit double digits in 1997, peaking at 11.6 litres in 2004 before falling to 9.9 litres today
• Over the past decade however, consumption has risen by 5%.

How much do Brits drink? by The Institute of Alcohol Studies

How often do Brits drink? by The Institute of Alcohol Studies

• The disparity between on and off-trade consumption among adults has widened since 2000.
• Off-trade consumption (alcohol bought from retailers) has increased by 1.5 litres of pure alcohol.
• On-trade consumption among adults in the UK (ie drinking alcohol sold in pubs, nightclubs and hotels) declined by 1.8 litres of pure alcohol per person since 2000.

Do Brits drink more out, or at home? by The Institute of Alcohol Studies

• In England in 2022, 19% had not drunk alcohol in the last 12 months (NHS, 2024)

• England: 37% of 11-15-year-olds have ever had a drink in 2023
• Scotland: 36% of 13-year-olds; 71% of 15-year-olds
• Wales: 51% of 13-year-olds; 77% of 15-year-olds
• NI: 1/3 of those aged 11-16, half of whom had their first drink under 13
• The following charts are for England only.

How many 11-15 year olds have ever drank? by The Institute of Alcohol Studies

What amount of alcohol have 11-15 year olds consumed? by The Institute of Alcohol Studies

What proportion of 11-15 year olds have been intoxicated? by The Institute of Alcohol Studies

What proportion of young adults in the UK drink alcohol? by The Institute of Alcohol Studies

What proportion of older adults in the UK drink alcohol? by The Institute of Alcohol Studies

• 76% of women in England reported drinking in the last year
• Average number of units drunk per week by women: 8.5
• 1 in 7 women drinking more than the CMO’s weekly guideline of 14 units a week

What proportion of women in the UK drink alcohol? by The Institute of Alcohol Studies

• 82% of men in England reported drinking in the last year
• Average number of units per week consumed amongst men: 14.7
• 3 in 10 men drink more than the CMO’s weekly guidelines

What proportion of men in the UK drink alcohol? by The Institute of Alcohol Studies