Drinkaware reveals alcohol moderation is on the increase but one in five drinkers are putting their health at serious risk
- Nine in ten (90%) UK drinkers moderate their drinking up from 87% in 2023 and 84% in 2018
- One in five (19%) UK Drinkers are exceeding the UK Chief Medical Officers’ low risk drinking guidelines, and putting their health at serious risk
- Drinkaware’s 2024 Monitor surveyed more than 5,000 UK adults about their drinking habits
Nine in ten UK drinkers are trying to moderate their drinking in some way, up from 87 per cent in 2023 and 84% in 2018, according to the latest Drinkaware Annual Monitor published today (Thursday 26 September).
The Drinkaware Monitor 2024 is the UK’s only national survey that provides an insight into the UK’s drinking habits. Conducted by YouGov this year’s Monitor, surveyed 5,143 UK adults aged 18 to 85.
Taking drink-free days remains the most popular way to moderate up from 67% in 2023 to 71% in 2024.
Drinking zero-alcohol (25% in 2023 vs. 31% in 2024) and low-alcohol (28% in 2023 vs. 34% in 2024) products is increasingly popular, particularly among young drinkers (18–34-year-olds). More than a third (36%) currently drink non-alcohol products, compared to 28% of those aged 55 or above.
The Monitor also reveals that one in five (19%) drinkers, equivalent to around eight million people, exceed the UK Chief Medical Officers’ low risk drinking guidelines, putting their health at serious risk. Twenty-eight per cent of people are concerned about someone else’s drinking in the last 12 months, up from 26% in 2023. Despite this, only 27% of UK adults have been asked to complete an alcohol assessment such as the Drinkaware Drinking Check.
Karen Tyrell, CEO of the charity Drinkaware, said:
“It is really encouraging to see the growth in people moderating their drinking, especially among the young.
“The growth of low and no alcohol drinks and their increase in popularity makes it much easier for people to moderate their drinking.
“However, there are around eight million people drinking at a level that is putting their health at serious risk, reflected in the more than 10,000 people who died from alcohol related illness last year. The highest on record.
“Understanding how much you drink can help prevent your health being put at serious risk. The Drinkware Drinking Check is a quick and easy way to find out how your drinking is impacting your health.”
The Monitor is the only UK-wide nationally representative survey that dives into peoples’ drinking habits and behaviour. It also found:
- The number of adults who drink four or more times a week is down year-on-year since 2020. (19% in 2020- 13% in 2024).
- Eleven per cent of UK drinkers binge drink at least once a week, down from 13% in 2023 and the lowest it has been looking back to 2018 (15%).
- Nine per cent of male drinkers are high risk or possibly dependent (according to the Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test; AUDIT), compared to five per cent of female drinkers.
- Thirty-three per cent of UK adults in ethnic minority groups do not drink alcohol, more than twice as high than white adults (13%).
- One in four (26%) young people (18-24) don't drink at all.