Alcohol Use and Statistics in the UK - Rehab Guide
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Alcohol Use and Statistics in the UK

UK alcohol statistics

Did you know that according to the latest alcohol statistics, the alcohol intake in the UK is one of the highest in the European continent?

Harmful consumption of alcohol is linked to premature death and preventable illness. It is a significant preventable risk factor for neuropsychiatric conditions, coronary conditions, liver disease, comorbid conditions, and cancer.

Alcohol use is often linked with a variety of infectious diseases and causes many unintended and deliberate accidents.

Alcohol is one of the most commonplace used substances in the United Kingdom. Unfortunately, it also is abused. Alcohol statistics show that approximately 586,780 of the UK population are diagnosed with an alcohol use disorder.

The term alcohol use disorder may be used synonymously with alcoholism, alcohol dependency, alcohol addiction or alcohol dependence. This disease leads to many different health problems and alcohol-related injuries.

Looking for the latest alcohol statistics in the United Kingdom? Then it would help if you did not miss this comprehensive article.

Alcohol Consumption In the UK

Many people have their first alcoholic drink before entering high school and are oblivious of the consequences of heavy alcohol consumption. Early access to alcohol can have adverse and long-lasting effects on brain growth. While experiences vary from one person to another, it is crucial to know important alcohol statistics and facts.

After 2005, the total volume of alcohol consumed in the United Kingdom, the percentage of people who reported drinking, and the volume of drinking said to have been consumed, declined. That pattern is especially evident among younger drinkers.

Here are some statistics regarding drinking behaviours in the UK:

  • In England in 2018, 82% of adults had consumed alcohol for the previous 12 months. Out of those, 49% of adults drank at least once a week
  • While 16 to 24-year-olds are less likely to drink alcohol in the week, when they do drink, they are more likely to drink binge
  • People in the East of England, in 2018 were more likely to experience drinking in the last week, while people from the North East suggest that when they do drink, they binge
  • People in Scotland are the most likely to drink binge, and those in England are the least likely to do so
  • In Scotland in 2018, 9.9 litres of hard liquor is sold per adult, equal to 19 units per week. That is a 3% fall from 2017 figures and the lowest amount in Scotland since 1994. That is in line with the implementation of minimum unit prices in Scotland in May 2018
  • In England and Wales, 9.1 litres of hard liquor was sold per adult in 2018, equivalent to 17.5 units per week
  • In Wales, 18 per cent of the people drink more than 14 units a week
  • In England, 40% of adults drink more than 14 units a week

Alcohol can have either short-term or long-term impacts on our overall health. Although moderate use is not generally a concern, drinking consistently or excessively for a prolonged period may have a longer-term effect.

Alcohol-related Crime Statistics in the UK

In 2015/16 in England and Wales, victims believed the offenders to be under the influence of alcohol in 39% of all violent incidents, down from a peak of 55% in 2009/10. In Wales, the figure is higher, at 49% in 2015/16, down from a peak of 73% in 2006/07

In 2018/19 in England and Wales, the area in which people perceived the greatest problem with people being drunk or rowdy in public places was Northamptonshire, Cambridgeshire followed by London and the West Midlands. The places in which the fewest people perceived this problem were Cumbria, Nottinghamshire, Suffolk, Surrey and North Wales.

In 2017/18 in Scotland, Offenders were believed to be under the influence of alcohol in almost half of violent crime.

Binge Drinking

What is binge drinking? Binge drinking typically refers to drinking many drinks in a short amount of time or drinking to get intoxicated.

In the UK, it is drinking more than:

  • Eight units of alcohol in a single sitting for men
  • Six units of alcohol in a single sitting for women

That is not the same definition that applies to all binge drinkers because tolerance for alcohol can differ from individual to individual.

An Office of National Statistics study showed that in the United Kingdom, individuals aged 55 to 64 years appear to drink excessively and face a greater health risk.

Profession Demographics And Alcoholism

The Office of National Statistics latest data has revealed that municipal employees, physicians, attorneys and other more skilled professionals are more likely to be daily drinkers than less-off adults.

The ONS reported that social conditions appear to be significant determinants in British drinking activities. A total of 51% of manual workers drank in the last week compared to 70% of professionals, including architects and teachers, such as manual occupations, the staff of bars and care personnel.

Alcohol abuse and binge drinking is a common problem with students that attend college and university. Surveys carried out amongst English universities concluded, many students were drinking alcohol to harmful levels,

Alcohol Statistics On Drunk Driving

In the UK, the statistics for drunk driving indicate that DUI incidents have declined significantly since records started in 1979, but still are a concern.

When under the influence, a person putting their or others at risk is one of the many dangers of alcohol consumption.

Data collected for 2017 indicates that between 230 and 270 people were killed in DUIs in the UK.  That is around 14 per cent of all road fatalities reported.

In conclusion, it seems that efforts are being made to minimise drunk driving accidents. They have succeeded somewhat, but it is not enough. Too many accidents and deaths occur every year as a result of driving a drink.

Alcohol-Related Death Statistics

There are thousands of annual deaths from alcohol in the UK. In England, 5,698 alcohol-specific deaths occurred in 2018, 2 per cent lower than in 2017 and 7 per cent higher in 2008.

70% of the 5,698 deaths were from liver disease caused by alcohol consumption. Another 10% is attributed to psychiatric and behavioural problems due to alcohol use.

Alcohol Treatment and Recovery

The recovery services’ success rate varies significantly depending on the treatment centre, the person, and the particular treatment.

Here are some statistics:

  • In 2018/19 in England, 75,555 people were assessed and treated by recovery treatment centres, a drop of 18 per cent since 2013/14
  • The average age for people treated with alcoholism is 46
  • 47 per cent of those treated for alcohol abuse live in the 30 per cent of the most disadvantaged areas
  • 54% of people who are treated for alcohol abuse also need mental health care

However, those suffering from alcohol addiction frequently have no clue where to turn to for help with the treatment of their alcohol dependency. The first step is your GP. Alternatively, many online helplines will gladly assist you.

The Truth Lies In the Numbers

There are some significant lessons to learn from alcohol statistics for alcohol addiction. Alcohol usage varies significantly based on age, gender identity, ethnicity, education and employment status.

Heavy alcohol use causes numerous health and mental issues, and injuries as well as fatalities. The excellent news is that alcohol addiction can be treated successfully by medical professionals and rehab centres. Medical professionals at a rehab facility can treat an alcohol use disorder.

Alcohol abuse is an everyday battle for thousands of individuals. Call today for free guidance on how we can help you or somebody you know conquer alcohol addiction in one of our rehab centres.

Author 'John

John

Trained in addictionology in the Johnson Model, and specializing in substance abuse for individual and couple counselling. John's personal experience has given him a wealth of insights, which he integrates into practice. His extensive training has allowed him to gain expertise in individual and group counselling, concurrent disorders, case management, executing treatment plans and relapse prevention. He started this free helpline as a result of a life change and to help others get sober and live a life free from drugs and alcohol. John covers a variety of topics relating to addiction and recovery in his articles.

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