Rich are far more likely to drink too much than the poor and teenagers are shunning alcohol, report finds
- Health Survey for England interviewed more than 8,200 adults in 2019
- Increasing household income was linked to drinking more than 14 units a week
- Highest proportion of men drinking at this level were in highest income houses
Wealthier adults are far more likely to drink to excess than those on lower incomes, according to a new report, which also found that teenagers are shunning alcohol.
The Health Survey for England, which interviewed more than 8,200 adults in 2019, found that increasing household income was linked to drinking more than 14 units of alcohol per week.
Among men, the highest proportion of those drinking at this level were in highest income households (44 per cent) compared with 22 per cent in the lowest income bracket.
Meanwhile, 25 per cent of women in the highest income homes drank alcohol at higher levels compared to 9 per cent in the lowest income homes.
The Health Survey for England, which interviewed more than 8,200 adults in 2019, found that increasing household income was linked to drinking more than 14 units of alcohol per week. Stock picture
Overall in 2019, 19 per cent of adults had drunk at levels putting them at increasing risk of harm (between 14 and 35 units for women and between 14 and 50 units for men), while 4 per cent were drinking even more than this.
The proportion of adults who reported drinking on five or more days in the previous week also increased with age from 2 per cent of 16 to 24-year-olds to 18 per cent of 55 to 74-years-olds and 17 per cent of adults aged 75 and over.
The Health Survey also questioned 2,095 children aged up to the age of 15.
It found that 15 per cent of children aged between eight and 15 in 2019 said they had ever had an alcoholic drink.
This is similar to recent years but represents a dramatic drop from a peak of 45 per cent in 2003.
Among men, the highest proportion of those drinking at this level were in highest income households (44 per cent) compared with 22 per cent in the lowest income bracket. Stock picture
Overall, around one in three children aged 13 to 15 had ever drunk alcohol, according to the latest figures.
Professor Sir Ian Gilmore, chairman of the Alcohol Health Alliance UK, said: ‘It is positive news that the number of children drinking alcohol has dropped so significantly since 2003.
‘The earlier an individual starts to drink alcohol, the more likely they are to develop alcohol-related problems later in life.
‘To continue this downward trend, we need to protect children from exposure to alcohol advertising.
‘Protections must cover digital media, including influencers, and should be regularly assessed to keep up with developments in technology.’