Binge drinking britons don't knwo how much is too much

24th November 2003

British people are worried about the country?s binge drinking ? but few are aware of the safe drinking limits recommended by Government and medical experts, according to new research published as part of a campaign launched this week.

The new MORI research reveals that 78% are concerned (43% ?very concerned?) about binge drinking, drunkenness and disorderly behaviour among British people. Yet only 7% of men and 22% of women know that the current recommended allowances are 3-4 units and 2-3 units respectively.*

The seriousness of these figures is underlined by recent Government statistics revealing that almost 6 million people admit to binge drinking, with some 8 million drinking above the medically set limits.**

The unit system is further undermined by the lack of knowledge of how much booze is equivalent to a unit. The Office of National Statistics found in 2002 that only 50% of alcohol-consuming adults know that one unit is equivalent to half a pint of beer, with just over 60% knowing that a small glass of wine or single measure of spirits represents one unit.***

Furthermore, with stronger beers and wines and larger servings of many drinks than when the unit system was first introduced, it has become more difficult for members of the public to accurately monitor their consumption.

The new figures from MORI come just a few weeks after a Cabinet Office analysis of alcohol harm in Britain indicated that alcohol played a part in over 1 million fights, 19,000 sexual assaults and 360,000 domestic violence incidents each year ? while costing the NHS £1.7 billion.

The new research is being published in a campaign launched on Tuesday by charities Alcohol Concern, Turning Point and the London Drug and Alcohol Network ? as part of a series of projects urging the Government to publish and implement an effective alcohol harm-reduction strategy as a matter of urgency.

Commenting on the figures, Alcohol Concern?s Chief Executive Eric Appleby says: ?While alcohol remains a Cinderella issue ? a poor relation to drugs in terms of investment in treatment and education ? it is hardly surprising that there are low levels of understanding about how much alcohol is healthy.

?We very much welcome the Government?s commitment to a national alcohol strategy ? but it was promised in 1998 and never came; it was promised for this summer and never came; then it was promised for this Autumn but we?re still waiting. The sooner Ministers implement a national strategy in England, backed with significant investment, the sooner we can reverse the growth in binge drinking and reduce alcohol dependency.?

The Comic Relief funded campaign ? called No Half Measures ? will see other new research unveiled later this week, highlighting the impact of alcohol misuse on the country?s emergency services, as well as recommendations for the National Alcohol Harm Reduction Strategy - including more easily accessible information about how to drink healthily. Advertisements calling for immediate action on alcohol misuse will also be displayed around the country.

Ends

Press Contacts:
Lee Lixenberg ? 020 7928 7377/07973 407422
Josh Bayly ? 020 7928 7377/07793 762818
Geethika Jayatilaka ? 07939 037730
Eric Appleby ? 07973 954069


Notes:
* MORI Social Research Institute, see separate sheet for survey results
Results are based on interviews with 1,001 adults aged 16+, carried out by telephone between 19-21 September 2003. Data are weighted to the profile of the population of Great Britain. For further information from MORI, please contact Michele Corrado or Andrew Norton at MORI on 020 7347 3000.

**Interim Analytical Report, Cabinet Office (Strategy Unit), September 2003

*** Drinking: Adults? Behaviour and Knowledge in 2002, Office of National Statistics, pages 28-30

MORI Social Research Institute
· MORI Social Research Institute interviewed a representative quota sample of 1,001 adults aged 16+ across Great Britain. Interviews were conducted by telephone between 19-21 September 2003, using random digit dial
· Data are weighted to the known national population profile
· ?*? indicates a value of less than half of one per cent but greater than zero
· Where results do not sum to 100, this may be due to multiple answers or computer rounding
· Base all (1,001), unless otherwise specified

Q How concerned are you personally about so-called ?binge drinking?, drunkenness & disorderly behaviour among British people? Are you (ALTERNATE ORDER) very concerned, fairly concerned, not very concerned or not at all concerned? SINGLE CODE ONLY
Base: Adults aged 16+ (1,001)%
Very concerned 43
Fairly concerned 35
Not very concerned 16
Not at all concerned 5

Very concerned / Fairly concerned 78
Not very concerned / Not at all concerned 21

Don?t know 1 ( )

Q As you may know, there is a recommended alcohol consumption allowance, measured in units. Do you know what the current recommended allowance is for you, per day or per week?(IF RESPONDENT HAS A SPECIFIC DRINKING ?LIMIT? FOR EG MEDICAL REASONS, ASK ??Do you know what the current recommended allowance is for someone of your gender??
MEN WOMEN
Base: Adults aged 16+ (1,001)% (439)% (562)%
0-1 unit per day 3 2 3
2-3 units per day 18 15 22
3-4 units per day 5 7 3
5-6 units per day 1 2 1
7-10 units per day 2 2 1
More than 10 units per day * - *
0-7 units per week 4 4 4
8-13 units per week 4 3 4
14 units per week 6 2 10
15-20 units per week 2 3 2
21 units per week 5 8 2
22-30 units per week 3 6 -
31-50 units per week * 1 -
More than 50 per week * - *
Don?t know 46 44 48 ( )

Date: 24 November 2003

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