One in 10 drinkers in the UK think they have an unhealthy relationship with alcohol, according to an annual survey.
By contrast, far more people believe their country has a drinking problem – 56% in England, 66% in Scotland, 63% in Northern Ireland and 38% in Wales.
Fewer drinkers think they are the ones with the issue, with respondents most likely to be concerned for a friend’s drinking habits (36%).
The figures, published on Thursday, are part of Drinkaware’s Annual Monitor, which offers an insight into our relationship with alcohol.
Of the 10,473 who took part in the survey, 20% said they drank more than the UK’s medical guideline of 14 units a week.
While people were quick to point out their friends’ unhealthy relationships with alcohol – 59% of respondents said they do not think society is understanding of people with drinking problems. This was higher in Scotland at 65%.
Of those who were concerned about someone else’s drinking – 53% had spoken to the person about it, 43% had commented on it, but only 24% had encouraged them to get help.
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Karen Tyrell, chief executive of Drinkaware, said: “We need to be more open and honest about our own relationship with alcohol and talk more about our drinking habits.
“Most people think the country has an unhealthy relationship with alcohol, but it is not them, it is someone else.
“There has never been a better time to change, and learn from how we talk about mental health, to make people feel more comfortable talking about their drinking.”
UK drinking less often
The survey revealed that as a nation, the UK is drinking less often – with those drinking less than weekly increasing from 33% in 2019 to 39% in 2023.
We are also drinking at home alone less – with 24% of respondents doing so at least once a week in 2021 compared to 18% this year.
But only a third of people (29%) said they would feel comfortable talking to their family about their own drinking habits, dropping to 24% with friends, rising to 45% with a partner.
Wine and beer are the UK’s most popular drinks, with 32% of those surveyed saying they almost always drink wine, compared to 31% who said they almost always choose beer.
You can take the Drinkaware quiz here.
