Skip to main content

Britain’s Christmas drinking habits revealed

Seasonal research into Britain’s drinking habits highlights that over a quarter of British adults (26 per cent) will consume more than 15 units of alcohol over Christmas, 24 to 26 December – the equivalent of 12.9 million people. This is well over the National Health Service’s recommended consumption of 9-12 units for men and 6-9 units for women over a three day period.
December 24, 2015 Read time: 2 mins
Seasonal research into Britain’s drinking habits highlights that over a quarter of British adults (26 per cent) will consume more than 15 units of alcohol over Christmas, 24 to 26 December – the equivalent of 12.9 million people. This is well over the National Health Service’s recommended consumption of 9-12 units for men and 6-9 units for women over a three day period.

The study was carried out by Steak Group on behalf of gadget insurer gadgetbuddy.com which has been reviewing the latest smartphone breathalysers. In a look at those exceeding 15 units between Christmas Eve and Boxing Day (inclusive), the North West tops the table with 31 per cent in an average year.

The lowest drinkers seem to be those in the West Midlands, where 20 per cent said they usually consume more than 15 units over the Christmas period.

Prior to and for the duration of the festive period, safety campaigns have been stepped up in a bid to reduce the number of accidents on Britain’s roads.

The results of the research suggest, of those polled, a significant number of 18-24 year olds  underestimate how long it takes for an individual’s blood alcohol level to return to zero after drinking. 17 per cent, or around just under a 1 million, believed it takes five hours or less for an individual’s blood alcohol level to reach zero if they had consumed six units. In fact, it takes on average one hour for the body to break down one unit of alcohol; this can take much longer given a range of factors including gender, weight and metabolism.

Around 85 per cent of all respondents were unaware that Smartphone breathalysers, which could help a person to see if they are over the legal limit, are available to purchase online.

Related Content

  • TISPOL conference sheds new light on VRUs
    June 2, 2016
    Geoff Hadwick reports on TISPOL’s efforts to protect vulnerable road users. At its annual conference in Manchester, TISPOL, the pan-European roads police organisation, called for the better protection of vulnerable road users. The statistics show a worrying trend as, since the turn of the century began, it is only the passenger car sector that is reducing its share of the overall EU fatality stats. Cyclists, motorcyclists and the elderly are all continuing to see their share of the figures worsen.
  • Road death toll increasing in poor countries, says WHO report
    February 20, 2019
    The latest figures from the World Health Organisation on road deaths make sobering reading – but they are particularly shocking when you consider how the relative poverty of countries contributes to high fatality rates, says Adam Hill Around 1.35 million people died on the world’s roads in 2016, while road traffic injuries are now the leading cause of death among young people, according to new statistics from the World Health Organisation (WHO). Perhaps the most sobering point from its latest research
  • MoceanLab discovers new Covid car-share use
    October 20, 2020
    The coronavirus pandemic has prompted some radical re-thinking of mobility services. Ben Spencer hears how MoceanLab car-share vehicles are delivering care to LA's homeless
  • Technology, social media bigger perceived threats than drink-driving, IAM finds
    November 6, 2015
    Motorists are now more worried about the dangers of distraction posed by technology and social media than drink-driving, according to the Institute of Advanced Motorist’s (IAM) first major survey into safety culture. The Safety Culture Index report was launched today by the IAM, and is a study of more than 2,000 UK motorists’ attitudes to driving safety and behaviour on our roads. IAM claims it will form a definitive baseline to track changes over time, providing the opportunity to examine how attitudes