Adult alcohol consumption
This report examines alcohol consumption among adults in England in 2015. It explores the proportion of men and women drinking at increasing and higher risk levels on a weekly and daily basis. Analysis also focuses on variations in alcohol consumption by household income and across regions in England.
Highlights
- In 2015, 83% of adults had drunk alcohol in the last 12 months.
- On average, men drank a mean of 14.9 units in a usual week and women drank a mean of 8.9 units.
- A minority of adults, 13% of men and 20% of women, had not drunk alcohol in the last 12 months. The majority, 55% of men and 64% of women, drank at levels considered to be at lower risk of alcohol-related harm (up to 14 units). The remaining 31% of men and 16% of women drank over 14 units in a usual week.
- Drinking over 14 units in a usual week was most common among men and women aged 55 to 64 (41% and 24% respectively).
- Men and women in higher income households were more likely to drink over 14 units in a usual week (37% and 22% respectively) than were men and women in lower income households (29% and 9% respectively).
- 15% of men and 9% of women drank alcohol on five or more days in the last week.
- Among adults who had drunk alcohol in the last week, 52% of men drank above 4 units on at least one day, and 50% of women exceeded 3 units on at least one day.