Statistics on alcohol: England, 1978 onwards

A Statistical Bulletin showing information on alcohol from a variety of sources was published today. It draws together information from various published sources into one document.

The summary shows that:

• In England in 1998, nearly two fifths (38%) of men had drunk more than 4 units of alcohol on at least one day in the previous week: around a fifth of women (20%) had drunk more than 3 units of alcohol on at least one day in the previous week.
• In 1998, 20% of men had drunk more than 8 units of alcohol on at least one day in the previous week, and 8% of women had drunk more than 6 units.
• In 1998, mean weekly alcohol consumption in England was 16.4 units for men and 6.4 units for women.
• In 1998, 27% of men and 12% of women aged 16 and over had drunk more than 21 and 14 units a week respectively. Drinking at these levels among men has remained stable at about 27% over the previous 10 years: for women it has risen from 9% to 12% in the same period.
• About a fifth (21%) of pupils aged 11-15 had drunk in the previous week in 1999, in England: no change since 1998.
• It is estimated that in Great Britain in 1999 there were 16,830 casualties in traffic accidents involving illegal alcohol levels: 5% of all traffic accident casualties.

13-July-2001 Source:  Newsdesk/Department of Health