In 2018 Brits drank on average 11.45 litres of pure alcohol. While the overall amount of alcohol consumed is lower than in some other European countries, such as in Ireland where they consumed 12.88 litres on average, Brits are much more likely to binge drink. This suggests there is a problem with the way Brits are drinking.
Vice UK, an online magazine, conducted an interview with some international students who moved to the UK about British drinking culture. This offers an insight into the rest of the world’s views on drinking in Britain and how vastly different it is in comparison with other areas of the world.
Many of the students mentioned Brits binge drinking, and often the pride that comes with being able to drink large amounts. Binge drinking is defined as consuming more than six units of alcohol for women, or eight units for men, in one sitting. It is much more common in the UK for people to experience blackouts on a night out, or drink for a long period of time, since day drinking is socially acceptable. But what is the problem with all this?
Accepted alcoholism
In 2019, 23% of adults in the UK reported drinking more than 14 units of alcohol per week, according to a survey by Drinkaware. This meets the requirements of alcohol misuse, which means almost a quarter of the British population have an issue with their relationship with alcohol. 15% of adults who participated in the survey reported binge drinking in the previous week, which is unsurprising considering how accepted it seems to be in British society.
This situation is exacerbated by the companies selling alcohol, who, unlike tobacco companies, don’t have to clearly display the dangerous effects of overconsumption on their products. While there is a health warning, it is nothing compared to the graphic images on a pack of cigarettes. The Institute of Alcohol Studies found that adding graphic images to alcohol products reduced the selection of that product by 26%, with the participants gravitating towards a non-alcoholic beverage instead. However, this is a small study, and it is uncertain if the findings will continue on a larger scale.
The alcohol industry isn’t blameless. According to the Guardian there were less than 40 celebrity affiliated alcohol brands in 2018, and as of January 2023 there are more than 350. We are being advertised and marketed alcohol in a way that isn’t acceptable for any other drug, so why should alcohol be an exception? Especially when the side effects and health concerns are similar.
Health risks
The NHS states that long term alcohol misuse can cause high blood pressure, stroke, pancreatitis, liver disease, cancer, depression, infertility, dementia and brain damage. There were 9,641 deaths related to alcohol specific causes in 2022.
Alcohol also has many problems in the short term, and many of us are familiar with this in the form of a hangover. However, there are also much more frightening issues, such as the 1.2 million violent incidents linked to alcohol misuse in England each year.
Changing attitudes
On a much more positive note, there already seems to be some changes when it comes to how alcohol is viewed in British society. People aged 16–24 are less likely to drink than they were in previous years, suggesting excessive alcohol consumption will gradually become less normalised in the UK. In 2019, 20% of adults in the UK were non-drinkers, which was an increase from 17% in 2015. Alcohol Change UK also wants to continue to raise more awareness around the negative effects of alcohol and reduce the harm caused by it.
Reach out for help
There is a lot of help available for those who think they might have a problem with alcohol. Realising you might have a problem is the first step to a healthier relationship with alcohol consumption. The NHS have many resources as well as Drinkaware UK.
It is not necessary to stop drinking alcohol completely, but British drinking culture does need to change. Binge drinking is alcohol misuse, and unfortunately is very common amongst British people. A night out doesn’t need to involve getting blackout drunk and drinking large amounts of alcohol isn’t something to celebrate.
British drinking culture has been problematic for a long time, and it’s time for that to change.
