Alcohol Consumption UK

In 2022, 19% of adults (aged 16+) did not drink alcohol.

• 16% of men and 22% of women did not drink alcohol.
• Adults aged 16 to 24 were the most likely to be non-drinkers while adults aged 55 to 64 were the least likely (25% vs 14%).
• The proportion of non-drinkers increased from 17% to 19% between 2011 and 2022

Source: Health Survey for England

In 2022/23, 17% of adults (aged 16+) did not drink alcohol.

• 15% of men and 19% of women did not drink alcohol.
• Adults aged 65+ were the most likely to be non-drinkers while adults aged 45 to 64 were the least likely (21% vs 15%).
• The proportion of non-drinkers has remained stable between 2016/17 and 2022/23 (17%).

Source: National Survey for Wales

In 2023, 20% of adults (aged 16+) did not drink alcohol.

• 18% of men and 23% of women did not drink alcohol.
• Adults aged 75+ were the most likely to be non-drinkers while adults aged 55 to 64 were the least likely (30% vs 16%).
• The proportion of non-drinkers increased from 14% to 20% between 2011 and 2023.

Source: Scottish Health Survey

In 2023/24, 22% of adults (aged 18+) did not drink alcohol.

• 19% of men and 24% of women did not drink alcohol.
• Adults aged 75+ were the most likely to be non-drinkers while adults aged 18 to 24 were the least likely (42% vs 13%).
• The proportion of non-drinkers declined from 23% to 22% between 2010/11 and 2023/24.

Source: Health Survey Northern Ireland

In 2022, 48% of adults (aged 16+) drank alcohol on at least one day each week.

• 55% of men and 42% of women drank alcohol on at least one day each week.
• Adults aged 65 to 74 were the most likely to drink alcohol on at least one day each week while adults aged 16 to 24 were the least likely (60% vs 36%).
• The proportion of adults who drink at least once a week declined from 54% to 48% between 2011 and 2022.

Source: Health Survey for England

In 2022/23, 44% of adults (aged 16+) drank alcohol on at least one day each week.

• 52% of men and 36% of women drank alcohol on at least one day each week.
• Adults aged 45 to 64 were the most likely to drink alcohol on at least one day each week while adults aged 16 to 44 were the least likely (52% vs 33%).
• The proportion of adults who drink at least once a week declined from 48% to 44% between 2020/21 and 2022/23.

Source: National Survey for Wales

In 2023, 47% of adults (aged 16+) drank alcohol on at least one day each week.

• 54% of men and 41% of women drank alcohol on at least one day each week.
• Adults aged 65 to 74 were the most likely to drink alcohol on at least one day each week while adults aged 25 to 34 were the least likely (57% vs 40%).
• The proportion of adults who drink at least once a week declined from 55% to 47% between 2011 and 2023.

Source: Scottish Health Survey

In 2023/24, 45% of drinkers (aged 18+) drank alcohol on at least one day each week.

• 52% of male drinkers and 37% of female drinkers drank on at least one day each week.
• Drinkers aged 55 to 64 were the most likely to drink alcohol on at least one day each week while drinkers aged 18 to 34 were the least likely (61% vs 31%).
• The proportion of drinkers who drink at least once a week declined from 54% to 45% between 2010/11 and 2023/24.

Source: Health Survey Northern Ireland

In 2022, 57% of adults (aged 16+) drank up to 14 units each week and 24% drank more than 14 units.

• 32% of men and 15% of women drank more than 14 units each week.
• Adults aged 55 to 64 were the most likely to drink more than 14 units each week while adults aged 16 to 24 were the least likely (30% vs 15%).
• The proportion of adults drinking more than 14 units each week declined from 26% to 24% between 2011 and 2022.

Source: Health Survey for England

In 2022/23, 66% of adults (aged 16+) drank up to 14 units each week and 17% drank more than 14 units.

• 25% of men and 10% of women drank more than 14 units each week.
• Adults aged 45 to 64 were the most likely to drink more than 14 units each week while adults aged 16 to 44 were the least likely (22% vs 13%).
• The proportion of adults drinking more than 14 units each week declined from 20% to 17% between 2016/17 and 2022/23.

Source: National Survey for Wales

In 2023, 59% of adults (aged 16+) drank up to 14 units each week and 20% drank more than 14 units.

• 28% of men and 14% of women drank more than 14 units each week.
• Adults aged 65 to 74 were the most likely to drink more than 14 units each week while adults aged 25 to 34 were the least likely (27% vs 13%).
• The proportion of adults drinking more than 14 units each week declined from 28% to 20% between 2011 and 2023.

Source: Scottish Health Survey

In 2022/23, 61% of adults (aged 18+) drank up to 14 units each week and 16% drank more than 14 units.

• 25% of men and 9% of women drank more than 14 units each week.
• Adults aged 45 to 54 were the most likely to drink more than 14 units each week while adults aged 75+ were the least likely (22% vs 7%).
• The proportion of adults drinking more than 14 units each week declined from 25% to 16% between 2010/11 and 2022/23.

Source: Health Survey Northern Ireland

In 2022, 17% of adults (aged 16+) reported binge drinking in the last week.

• 19% of men reported binge drinking in the last week compared to 15% of women.
• Adults aged 55 to 64 were the most likely to report binge drinking in the last week whereas adults aged 75+ were the least likely (21% vs 5%).
• The proportion of adults who reported binge drinking in the last week remained stable between 2011 and 2022 (17%).

Source: Health Survey for England

In 2019/20, 13% of adults (aged 16+) reported binge drinking in the last week.

• The proportion of adults who reported binge drinking in the previous week declined from 16% to 13% between 2016/17 and 2019/20.

Source: National Survey for Wales

In 2023, 14% of adults (aged 16+) reported binge drinking in the last week.

• 15% of men reported binge drinking in the last week compared to 13% of women.
• Adults aged 16 to 24 were the most likely to report binge drinking in the last week whereas adults aged 75+ were the least likely (20% vs 3%).
• The proportion of adults who reported binge drinking in the last week declined from 20% to 14% between 2011 and 2023.

Source: Scottish Health Survey

England

In 2022, 88% of adults (aged 16+) scored low risk on the Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test (AUDIT).

• 12% of adults were drinking at increasing risk, higher risk, or possible dependence levels.
• 16% of men drank at increasing risk, higher risk, or possible dependence levels compared to 9% of women.
• Adults aged 16 to 24 were the most likely to drink at increasing risk, higher risk, or possible dependence levels while adults aged 65+ were the least likely (20% vs 6%).

Source: Health Survey for England

Scotland

In 2023, 82% of adults (aged 18+) scored low risk on the Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test (AUDIT).

• 18% of adults were drinking at increasing risk, higher risk, or possible dependence levels.
• 24% of men drank at increasing risk, higher risk, or possible dependence levels compared to 13% of women.
• Adults aged 16 to 24 were the most likely to drink at increasing risk, higher risk, or possible dependence levels while adults aged 75+ were the least likely (31% vs 5%).

Source: Scottish Health Survey

In 2021/22, the average spend on alcohol per person per week was £6.08.

• On average, each person spent £3.89 on alcohol for the household each week compared to £2.19 for consumption outside the home.

Source: Family Food: CR - expenditure

In 2021/22, the average spend on alcohol per person per week was £5.89.

• On average, each person spent £4.70 on alcohol for the household each week compared to £1.19 for consumption outside the home.

Source: Family Food: CR - expenditure

In 2021/22, the average spend on alcohol per person per week was £6.47.

• On average, each person spent £4.09 on alcohol for the household each week compared to £2.37 for consumption outside the home.

Source: Family Food: CR - expenditure

In 2021/22, the average spend on alcohol per person per week was £6.18.

• On average, each person spent £3.80 on alcohol for the household each week compared to £2.37 for consumption outside the home.

Source: Family Food: CR - expenditure

In 2022/23, the average spend on alcohol per person per week was £5.94.

• On average, each person spent £3.60 on alcohol for the household each week compared to £2.34 for consumption outside the home.

Source: Family Food: UK - expenditure

In 2021/22, an average of 353ml of beer/lager was purchased for the home while 143ml of beer/lager was purchased for outside the home per person each week.

• 215ml of wine was purchased for the home while 18ml was purchased for outside the home per person each week.
• 71ml of cider was purchased for the home while 14ml was purchased for outside the home per person each week.
• 54ml of spirits was purchased for the home while 15ml was purchased for outside the home per person each week.

Source: Family Food: Countries and Regions

In 2021/22, an average of 547ml of beer/lager was purchased for the home while 62ml of beer/lager was purchased for outside the home per person each week.

• 238ml of wine was purchased for the home while 13ml was purchased for outside the home per person each week.
• 85ml of cider was purchased for the home while 7ml was purchased for outside the home per person each week.
• 67ml of spirits was purchased for the home while 8ml was purchased for outside the home per person each week.

Source: Family Food: Countries and Regions

In 2021/22, an average of 373ml of beer/lager was purchased for the home while 138ml of beer/lager was purchased for outside the home per person each week.

• 188ml of wine was purchased for the home while 13ml was purchased for outside the home per person each week.
• 56ml of cider was purchased for the home while 14ml was purchased for outside the home per person each week.
• 56ml of spirits was purchased for the home while 26ml was purchased for outside the home per person each week.

Source: Family Food: Countries and Regions

In 2021/22, an average of 215ml of beer/lager was purchased for the home while 87ml of beer/lager was purchased for outside the home per person each week.

• 215ml of wine was purchased for the home while 14ml was purchased for outside the home per person each week.
• 43ml of cider was purchased for the home while 4ml was purchased for outside the home per person each week.
• 68ml of spirits was purchased for the home while 15ml was purchased for outside the home per person each week.

Source: Family Food: Countries and Regions

In 2022/23, an average of 293ml of beer/lager was purchased for the home while 141ml of beer/lager was purchased for outside the home per person each week.

• 208ml of wine was purchased for the home while 20ml was purchased for outside the home per person each week.
• 72ml of cider was purchased for the home while 16ml was purchased for outside the home per person each week.
• 46ml of spirits was purchased for the home while 14ml was purchased for outside the home per person each week.

Source: Family Food: UK

Alcohol accounts for between 7-8% of all adult drinker’s total energy intake.

• Alcohol accounts for 8% of all male drinker's and 7% of all female drinker's (aged 19 to 64) total energy intake.
• Adult drinkers aged 19 to 64 and 65 and over consume around 21 grams of alcohol each day.
• Male drinkers aged 19 to 64 consume around 25 grams of alcohol per day and female drinkers aged 19 to 64 consume 17 grams. 

Source: National Diet and Nutrition Survey (Table 4.1)