Heart Research UK Healthy Heart Tip, written by the Health Promotion and Education Team at Heart Research UK
Healthy Heart Tip: A Low Alcohol Christmas
December is the time of year for gathering with family and friends, and these social occasions often revolve around alcohol.
Consuming too much alcohol can have a negative impact on your heart, and even if you don’t drink often, a few drinks can cause you to sleep poorly and be tired the next day making you reach for unhealthy foods for a quick energy fix.
In this week’s healthy tip, we share some ideas for how you can reduce your alcohol consumption this festive season and enter the new year feeling full of energy.
Alcohol-free drinks
Many of the big-name brands now offer alcohol-free versions of their popular drinks. If you haven’t found a good alternative to your regular drink, keep trying until you find one that you like.
There are some great options available that taste very similar to their alcohol counterpart. Even if you don’t quit drinking entirely, you can reduce the amount of alcohol you consume by alternating your regular drink with an alcohol-free version.
Mocktails
Cocktails without alcohol are a great way to enjoy a tasty drink this festive season. Most bars and restaurants will have a selection of mocktails for you to choose from and they’re usually cheaper too.
Just be mindful of choosing ones that are low in sugar, try to avoid those containing sugar syrups and fruit juices and opt for the ones using ingredients like mint, lime juice and soda water.
A fancy glass makes all the difference, so why not buy some decorative cocktail vessels, and make some indulgent mocktails at home.
Enjoy alcohol in moderation
We don’t have to stop drinking completely to look after our heart, the key is to enjoy alcohol in moderation and adopt other healthy lifestyle habits in conjunction with limiting our alcohol consumption.
The NHS recommends drinking no more than 12 units of alcohol a week, spread across three or more days, so just make sure you don’t exceed this.
This looks like six medium (175ml) glasses of wine or six pints of 4% beer.
One in seven (17%) UK adults – estimated as 8.8 million people – plan to go alcohol-free for 31 days in January, with three in 10 looking to cut down generally in 2023
One in four say they have drunk more in 2022 than 2021, while for one in six the cost of living crisis was a reason for the increase in their drinking
Of those planning to go alcohol-free, one in three said they would prefer to take part in Dry January with Alcohol Change UK
Those who take on Dry January using the charity Alcohol Change UK’s free Try Dry app and/or daily motivational emails are twice as likely to have a month totally alcohol-free and experience many more benefits
New research1 published by Alcohol Change UK, the charity behind Dry January®, shows that almost 9 million people in the UK are planning to have a month off drinking in January 2023 – up from an estimated 8 million UK adults last year.
Of those, one in three (33%) said they would prefer to take part in Dry January® with Alcohol Change UK, rather than trying to go alcohol-free in January on their own.
The survey, commissioned by Alcohol Change UK, shows that the cost of living crisis has impacted on drinking habits over the last six months. One in six (16%) people who drink alcohol said this had led to them drinking more to cope with worries around the crisis, and one in seven (14%) have prioritised purchasing alcohol over essential items, such as groceries.
For one in three young adults who drink (36%), anxiety after drinking has also been a factor in them deciding to reduce their alcohol consumption.
Hangxiety – a term used to describe the experience of feeling anxious the day after drinking – appears more prevalent amongst drinkers aged 34 and under, with two in five (40%) experiencing it regularly, compared to a tenth (12%) of those aged 35 and over. For those aged 18-34, over a third (36%) said it was a contributing factor in their decision to reduce their drinking.
Over the course of a typical week, British drinkers, on average, drink 13.7 units of alcohol. However, one in three (30%) drinkers typically drink more than the 14 units a week maximum recommended by the UK’s Chief Medical Officers, with twice as many men doing so compared to women (39% versus 22%).
Three in 10 (30%) drinkers said they would like to reduce how much they drink in 2023 (compared to 25% a year ago). Across all drinkers, half claim to already have taken measures to manage their drinking. The most common being having alcohol-free days (25%), drinking less on occasions where they are drinking alcohol (16%), having alcohol-free weeks or months (15%), or an alcohol-free night out (10%).
January 2023 marks the 10th anniversary since the launch of Dry January. Dry January® offers the perfect opportunity to manage your drinking for the longer term and a chance to get some amazing benefits along the way.
Research shows that those who do Dry January® with Alcohol Change UK double their chances of success, and have more energy, improved concentration, boosted mood, save money and so much more. A month off alcohol also leads to lower blood pressure, cholesterol and diabetes risk, as well as lower cancer-related proteins in the blood.
Over the past 10 years, Dry January® has continued to grow in popularity with record numbers of drinkers signing up to take part both in the UK and elsewhere.
First launched in 2013, Dry January® was the brainchild of Emily Robinson from Alcohol Change UK (formerly known as Alcohol Concern).
Speaking about its launch, Emily Robinson, now CEO of London Sport, said: “The idea of the Dry January® campaign first came to me after I decided to sign up for my first half-marathon.
“I wanted to be fitter and healthier, and I knew that alcohol makes it harder to get up every day and train. So I decided, just for one month, to give up alcohol in January.
“The mental and physical results were amazing. I slept better, had more energy, lost weight, and saved money.
“I also found that friends and colleagues were completely fascinated by my experiment, and more and more people wanted to speak to me about it. So, when I joined Alcohol Change UK (formerly Alcohol Concern) in 2012, I shared the idea with colleagues asking everyone to join in with taking a month off booze in January.
“Ten years on, it’s wonderful to see how Dry January® has become the huge phenomenon it is today. I’m incredibly proud of the campaign and would encourage anyone who’s interested in feeling happier and healthier to give it a try.”
Dry January® officially launched in January 2013. For that first year, 4,000 people signed up to take part. Since then, Dry January® has grown in popularity with over 130,000 people signing up to take part with Alcohol Change UK in 2022.
Evidence shows that Dry January® is an effective and lasting way to cut down. Research by the University of Sussex2 published in 2020 found that those signing up to take part in Dry January® using Alcohol Change UK’s free Try Dry app and/or coaching emails are twice as likely to have a completely alcohol-free month, compared to those who try to avoid alcohol on their own in January, and have significantly improved wellbeing and healthier drinking six months later.
Ailar Hashemzadeh, Director of Research and Public Affairs at Alcohol Change UK, said: “Over the past few years, things have been incredibly tough for so many people and the cost of living crisis is making things even tougher. This has led to more and more of us finding our drinking creeping up, particularly for those of us who were drinking more heavily to start with.
“Since its launch 10 years ago, Dry January® has provided a brilliant opportunity for hundreds of thousands of people to take a break from drinking and have a total reset.
“It helps you break habits you’ve fallen into and make long-term changes for the better. It can help to relieve anxiety and helps you remember that you don’t need alcohol to have fun, relax, celebrate, unwind or anything else. It puts you back in control of your drinking.
“If you’d like to reset your relationship with alcohol, give Dry January® a try by downloading the free Try Dry® app or sign up at dryjanuary.org.uk. It could be the spark you need for a happier and healthier 2023.”
Those taking part in Dry January® get access to all of the free tools and resources from Alcohol Change UK, from its Try Dry app to its daily motivational emails.
We’d encourage anyone who’s interested in resetting their relationship with alcohol to download the free Try Dry® app. You can use it year-round to check your units, calories and money saved, and earn badges as you go.
Alcohol Change UK is proud to be partnering with Lyre’s, Mocktails and Lucky Saint for Dry January 2023.
How to take part in Dry January®
Download the free Try Dry® app via the App Store or Google Play. Via Try Dry® you will be able to receive optional daily coaching emails. Alternatively, you can sign up for just the email coaching programme at dryjanuary.org.uk.
Try Dry® allows people to track their units, calories and money saved not drinking, plus set personalised goals and earn badges year-round. People who take part in Dry January®, whether online or via Try Dry®, are twice as likely to spend the whole the month alcohol-free, despite being heavier drinkers to start with (de Visser and Nicholls, 2020).
Heart Research UK Healthy Heart Tip, written by the Health Promotion and Education Team at Heart Research UK
Healthy Heart Tip: Staying Hydrated This Summer
Staying hydrated is important for keeping your heart and circulatory system healthy. Thirst often feels similar to hunger, so drinking plenty of fluid can prevent over-eating and weight-gain. We have some tips to help you stay hydrated:
Am I dehydrated?
Symptoms of dehydration include headaches, tiredness, irritability and difficulty concentrating. If your urine is pale and clear then you are hydrated. If your urine is more yellow, brown or dark in colour with a strong smell, you are probably not drinking enough.
How much should I drink?
Aim to drink six to eight cups or glasses of fluid every day. You may need to drink more during hot weather, or if you are doing a lot of physical activity.
What should I drink?
Water is best, but if you don’t like water, you could try herbal teas or sugar-free squash. Coffee and tea also count, but try to cut out any added sugar.
You can get water from fruit and vegetables, such as cucumber, watermelon, tomatoes, oranges and apples. Avoid drinking too much alcohol as it causes you to urinate more, which can lead to dehydration.
The Driest January the UK has ever seen, new data shows the UK’s driest cities
London Is set to be the driest city this January with an incredible 1,072,154 participants prepared to give up alcohol for the entire month.
The UK wants to go dry, new data has shown a 22% increase of people searching to go dry from the previous year
It is estimated up to six million people will attempt dry January this year which is 12.4% of the population, with the average household saving £98.74 if successful.
The UK is set for its driest January ever as new research reveals the average household will save £100 from not buying alcohol.
A study by kitchen experts Maxima Kitchen Equipment used ONS and Google data to look at which of our cities will be the ‘driest’ this January.
With 24% of the nation already considering themselves to be tee-total, new data shows that one in five of the UK population will attempt dry January and one in four will make an active attempt to cut down their alcohol consumption within the month, as Brits become increasingly health conscious.
London comes in first place with 1,072,154 people expected to go dry for the month – the highest number of participants in the whole of the UK.
The average bottle of wine from a supermarket in the capital is £8 and the average beer price is £1.90. Studies indicate that the average Brit consumes 18 units of alcohol per week, which equates to two bottles of wine, or six beers. Therefore if successful, the participants would save a combined total of £59,062,623, as well as each household saving £109 on average.
In second place is Leeds with an estimated total of 225,912 people set to give up alcohol this month. The city if successful will save an astonishing £12,226,724, based on an average bottle of wine from a supermarket costing £6.90 and an average beer price of £2.10. Each individual household will have saved on average £92.52 by the end of the month.
Birmingham takes third place with 128,521 participants going dry this January. The study found the city’s average price for a beer in the supermarket was £1.60 and the average bottle of wine was £6.75. This means an average household would save £94.84 and the city will save all together an incredible £5,960,529.
Reading came in 25th place with a total of 27,418 participants wanting to go dry. The average wine price came in at £7.12 and the average beer at £2.00. This means the city is set to save £1,442,943 from one month of not drinking.
Furthermore, each participating household would save £105 this month upon completion.
Top Ten Driest UK Cities
Estimated number of people that will attempt dry January
1 London 1,072,154.00
2 Leeds 225,912.00
3 Birmingham 128,521.00
4 Sheffield 87,394.00
5 Glasgow 71,686.00
6 Poole 61,119.00
7 Edinburgh 59,118.00
8 Liverpool 55,693.00
9 Bristol 55,693.00
10 Manchester 51,408.00
A spokesperson for Maxima Kitchen Equipment said: “Lots of people spend months looking forward to Christmas, and the chance to indulge a little more than usual, in both food and drink, it’s a key part of the excitement.
“However, in January it’s becoming more and more popular to try and start the year with a health-conscious mindset whether it be going dry for the month or just trying to drink a little bit less than usual.”
The research was carried out by Maxima Kitchen Equipment, which has more than 40 years of experience in the supply and maintenance of professional kitchen equipment.
Ruari Fairbairns, CEO and Founder of One Year No Beer, explains what happens to your body after you stop drinking, and draws a timeline of all the amazing benefits you can expect to enjoy from quitting alcohol
Ruari Fairbairns said: “Quitting alcohol comes with so many amazing benefits! You will start to notice improvements in your overall health from week one. As you continue on your path of being alcohol-free, you will notice your body becoming a well optimised machine.“
The inescapable fact is boozing causes a lot of health issues plus foul moods, crazy sugar cravings, poor sleep, unpleasant toilet habits and poor concentration. Booze also massively contributes to depression and anxiety.
Whilst we seek its numbing qualities to ease mood, booze is playing a cruel game. It is medically classed as a depressant, and over time it depresses your natural body chemistry and leads to that gnawing anxiety and heaviness.
Ruari says, “One of the most common questions we get asked is ‘what happens when you stop drinking?” There are so many benefits of not drinking alcohol, including sleeping more deeply and, as a result of this, increased physical and mental energy; restored hydration (leading to dewier and more youthful skin); weight loss and improved fitness; improved moods and a feeling of contentedness.”
Ruari explains in more detail with the following timeline …
What happens when you quit drinking:
Alcohol timeline
Short term benefits
The good news is our bodies LOVE being booze-free and respond really quickly. The lift in mood and depression is one to the key reasons people continue to stay booze free with the help of OYNB – because the natural high feels so good!
What happens to your body in the first few days?
1 – 12 HOURS
An hour after your last drink, your liver starts working overtime, clearing the alcohol from your bloodstream to prevent alcohol poisoning. Yep! Booze is poison and the liver has to alter its chemical structure so it doesn’t kill us – changing alcohol to acetaldehyde and then acetate.
Acetaldehyde, a highly toxic substance and a known carcinogen, so although acetaldehyde exists in the body only for a brief time before it is further broken down into acetate, it has the potential to cause significant damage. You may experience nausea and tremor as your body deals with all this. At the time your pancreas also starts producing extra insulin, which causes intense carb cravings.
12 – 24 HOURS
Your blood sugar has potentially normalised, if you haven’t created a glycemic roller-coaster by sugar and carb binging. To rebalance, eat healthy foods and drink lots of water.
48 -72 HOURS
For most, the worst is over by now. Although you may still feel groggy and tired depending on how much booze your body had to process. If, however, you had a bigger booze problem than you realised, then sweating, increased pulse, tremor, anxiety and agitation may continue or kick in at this time. A serious alcohol problem may need medical support from your GP to prevent fits or DTs.
72 HOURS ONWARDS
Any hangover side effects are now officially out of your system, you finally feel back to yourself physically and mentally. And to think this is only 72 hours into your quest to stop drinking alcohol for a month.
When you stop drinking alcohol for a week:
· You start sleeping more deeply and your physical and mental energy to increase as a result.
· Your skin begins to look dewier and more youthful as hydration restores.
· Skin conditions such as dandruff, eczema, and rosacea may also improve.
Sleep & hydration
After only one week of not drinking you will be making better decisions as well as benefiting from improved learning and problem solving. You will also find yourself feeling more creative. Even if you don’t have a huge appetite you will find your eating pattern improving day by day.
One of the most obvious benefits of not drinking alcohol for a week is that your body will be hydrated. This means you will have more energy, increased physical performance and you will be experiencing less headaches.
Calories & money saved
As well as the mental and physical benefits of not drinking alcohol, your wallet will also be feeling fuller.
· Wine drinkers can expect to save around £22.
· Beer drinkers would save £18 for giving up alcohol for a week.
The benefits of not drinking alcohol for 2 weeks include:
· No more acid reflux
· Stomach lining returns to normal
· Continued sleep and hydration improvements
· Noticeable weight loss
Now that you have quit drinking for two weeks, your body will be improving on the inside and you will be starting to look different on the outside too. You will have saved 2160 calories (six pints or six 175ml glasses of wine on average) by giving up alcohol for two weeks.
Drinking 12 pints of beer in two weeks is the equivalent to eating ten large slices of cake, 2160 calories.
Total money saved now from giving up alcohol for two weeks, £45 for wine and £35 for beer.
The benefits of not drinking alcohol for 3 weeks:
· Reduced risk of stroke and heart problems
· Better kidney health
· Improved vision
Congrats! 3 weeks of giving up alcohol is no mean feat! It is well known that drinking too much alcohol can lead to increased blood pressure. Now that you have stopped drinking for three weeks your blood pressure will start to reduce. This is one of the most important benefits of not drinking alcohol.
Calories & money Saved
Now you will have saved yourself a very healthy:
· £54 if you average 6 beers a week
· £67 if you consume 6 glasses of wine a week over the last three weeks.
You could put that saved cash to good use and start a gym membership to help burn off all the extra energy you have since you have had no alcohol for three weeks.
What happens when you stop drinking for 4 weeks?
· Reduce liver fat by up to 15%
· Better looking skin
· More likely to have reduced drinking for 6 months after the end of your challenge
Another health benefit from giving up alcohol for a month is improved liver function. After four weeks of no drinking your liver will start to shed excess fat. With the liver playing a part in over 500 vital processes, you also give your body a better chance of removing contaminants, converting food nutrients, storing minerals and vitamins.
Giving up alcohol for a month will have a positive impact on your skin due to your increased hydration levels. You could even reward yourself with an alcohol-free beer one night, which are also lower in calories and there are now so many to choose from.
Calories & money saved
You will also have reduced your calorie intake by 3840 for the month, if you used to drink six glasses of 175ml wine a week, or 4320 calories over the month if you used to drink six pints of lager a week.
For your bank balance that equates to saving:
· Over £70 if you drink beer
· And just under £90 by giving up wine for a month.
What happens when you give up alcohol for a month?
Your liver fat reduces by up to 20%, allowing it to flush toxins out of the body more efficiently.
Your cholesterol (a risk factor in heart disease) drops up to 5% and your glucose stabilises (decreasing your risk of developing type 2 diabetes). All the inward changes begin to show through in a healthy glow of the skin and eyes.
Benefits of not drinking alcohol for 3 months or more
There is a lot to expect when you stop drinking for 3 months. Alcohol is related to 7 different cancer types.
By giving up alcohol for 3 months you reduce your chances of getting cancer.
After a year of not drinking, you and your life will be transformed.
At OYNB we’ve been on this journey with 100s who’ve gone long-term booze-free and we see it every time:
* Weight loss and improved fitness * Improved moods and a feeling of contentedness * Better relationships * Increased productivity and focus at work * More pound in the pocket (if you spent an average of £75 a week on drinking at home and going-out, that’s a saving of £3900 over a year) * Ability to absorb vitamins and minerals increases * Reduced risk of cancer and decreased stress levels * Quicker immune response
Scots are the most likely in the UK to be drinking same or less since before lockdown was imposed
Lockdown was predicted to cause a sharp rise in alcohol consumption and binge-drinking but most UK drinkers (65%) actually drank the same, less or stopped drinking altogether during lockdown compared to previously.
In the weeks following the reopening of the hospitality sector, this trend has continued. Brits are continuing to drink in moderation, but more and more are choosing to do so at the pub.
Scotland is no exception to this trend and, though Scottish pubs only recently reopened their doors, close to a third (30%) of Scots have returned to the pub at least once.
Scots continue to drink in moderation despite the reopening of pubs
The latest YouGov survey commissioned by the Portman Group (2,296 UK adults, 12-13 August) shows that the moderate majority continues to prevail in the UK, even with the much-celebrated reopening of pubs.
92% of Scottish drinkers are drinking the same (59%), less (27.5%) or have cut alcohol out altogether (6%) since the hospitality sector reopened compared to before lockdown.
Scots are the most likely in the UK to be drinking the same, less or have stopped compared to drinkers in England (85%), Wales (88%) and Northern Ireland (89%).
Concerningly 5% of Scottish drinkers said they were drinking more since the hospitality sector reopened than before lockdown. We encourage anyone concerned about their own, or another persons’, drinking to visit Drinkaware or the NHS online for free advice and guidance.
The moderate majority of Scottish drinkers (69%) continue to drink responsibly, within the Chief Medical Officer guidelines of 14 units per week. Weekly intakes remain similar to before lockdown.
Scottish drinkers are also slightly more moderate than their English (66%) and Welsh (68%) counterparts in terms of remaining within the guidelines.
More than a quarter of Scottish pubgoers return to their local
While many of us continue to drink at home, a great number of Scots have resumed much loved habits of gathering at their local pub. Pubs have put in place diligent social distancing measures to ensure that communities can revisit pubs while feeling safe and secure. Scots are responding well to the ‘new normal’ with almost three quarters (76%) saying social distancing has not deterred them from a return to the pub.
It’s not just drinkers who have been making the most of the pubs reopening; pubs have long been a happy and inclusive environment for all members of the community.
The recent period has seen Scots making a cautious return to many much-loved venues outside of just hospitality, including shops and beauty salons, and it seems that, despite one in eight (12%) feeling the pinch after months of furlough or even job losses, we are still setting aside time and money to return to our favourite institutions, something that has been made clear with the popularity of August’s Eat Out to Help Out scheme.
Pubs in Scotland opened their doors once again on 15 July. Despite this, close to a third (30%) of Scottish adults have made their way back to the pub, slightly higher than Northern Ireland (26%) but lower than Wales (37%) and England (42%).
Speaking about the results of the survey, John Timothy, CEO of the Portman Group, the social responsibility and regulatory body for alcohol in the UK, commented: “During the course of the COVID-19 crisis there has been a fear that many people would turn to alcohol and that misuse would increase.
“Yet Scots are showing continued moderation both at home and, happily, now back at the pub. It’s great to see people supporting their community pubs while drinking sensibly and maintaining social distancing.”
Commenting on the results in Scotland, Douglas Meikle, Head of Alcohol Policy at the Scottish Alcohol Industry Partnership, said: “It’s encouraging that so many Scots continue to drink within the CMOs’ guidelines of 14 units a week, in spite of the unprecedented nature of lockdown, with many deciding to drink less.
“As things get back to being more normal it will be important to continue that trend and encourage those who want to go back to our pubs and bars that they can do so safely”.
Last Friday before Christmas just happens to fall on the 23rd, and authorities expect mayhem
“We shall know them by their bad Christmas jumpers and their Santa hats.”
Mad Friday – the last working Friday before Christmas where workers cut lose with the spirit of the Festive Season – is expected to be the maddest in years, as it falls just two days before the big day.
One Yorkshire-based office services provider says that the national press may have jumped the gun, suggesting that Mad Friday 2017 was last week.
But Desk.co.uk says there’s worse to come, with workers from offices and construction workers coming together in town and city centres with only one aim in mind – to get completely blathered.
“Last Friday was just an alcohol-fuelled curtain-raiser to the main event,” says Desk.co.uk‘s Jonathan Ratcliffe. “The 23rd is going to be the final, final day at work for millions of people, and they’re going to celebrate in style.”
In fact, Ratcliffe expects the entire week to be one of excess, with office parties happening all week, building up to the final letting-off-of steam before more than a week away from work.
“We shall know them by their bad Christmas jumpers and their Santa hats,” says Jonathan, “Not to mention their inability to walk in a straight line and singing tuneless Christmas carols at the top of their voices into the early hours.”
Mad Friday will be followed by Sozzled Saturday, as revellers celebrate Christmas Eve.
And then… next Saturday night is also New Year’s Eve, so there’s little let-up for Britain’s town centres.
Although most towns are expecting a party atmosphere on Friday, authorities expect the usual trouble from those for whom alcohol and good times do not mix. Mad Friday really takes a turn for the worse at pub closing time, where office party survivors are wandering the streets and aggression can surface.
Just one misguided comment, or an argument over a taxi can lead to an all-out brawl that spoils the Festive Season for everyone. And that’s what police and emergency workers fear the worst, as aggressive drunks are both difficult and unpredictable to deal with and also an enormous waste of resources.
“That’s the real tragedy about Mad Friday,” says Ratcliffe, “The strain on the police force and the NHS is bad enough without what are – essentially – self-inflicted injuries.”
There’s a radical solution that bosses could consider, he says.
And that’s making workers agree that their behaviour outside of work – especially at Christmas parties – reflects back on the company’s reputation, making it subject to workplace discipline.
“It’s an extreme approach,” he says, “but the office party and the so-called ‘last day of term’ need to calm down a bit.”
While letting your hair down is fine, Desk.co.uk says that something needs to be done about the people who go too far and spoil Christmas for everybody.
“Enjoy the party,” he says, “But don’t wreck the party.”
Pub-goers still have time to contribute to a consultation which could help to protect the pub industry for years to come – but the closing date for comments is 31st July.Continue reading Last orders for pubs consultation
Pubs feel the pinch: Almost three quarters of alcohol sold in Scotland was from supermarkets or off-licences
Alcohol sales went up again during 2014 – and the Scottish government says the latest figures reinforce the need for minimum unit pricing to tackle the sale of cheap, strong alcohol.
This comes after recent statistics showing a second year of increases in alcohol-related deaths.
Despite recent improvements in alcohol-related harm levels following measures such as the multi-buy discount ban and increased investment in alcohol treatment and care services, affordability remains a key issue, and is closely related to consumption and harm.
Figures published today show that 10.7 litres of pure alcohol were sold per adult in Scotland in 2014 – equivalent to 20.5 units per adult per week – compared to 10.6 litres in 2013. This is in contrast to the trend for declining sales seen in recent years and is mainly due to more alcohol being sold in supermarkets and off-licences – known as the off-trade.
Scots continue to drink almost a fifth more than in England and Wales, where nine litres of pure alcohol were sold per adult – equivalent to 17.4 units per adult per week.
The figures also show that for the first time since 2007, the average price per unit in the off-trade has not increased and remains at 52 pence. However, more than half of alcohol sold in off-trade costs below 50 pence per unit – the level proposed for minimum unit pricing.
The shift from sales in pubs and clubs to supermarkets and off-licences, where average prices are much lower, has also continued. Almost three quarters of alcohol sold in Scotland – 72 per cent – was from supermarkets or off-licences, the highest market share seen.
Public Health Minister Maureen Watt said: “It’s concerning that the decline in consumption seen in recent years now appears to have stalled, especially after figures published last week showed alcohol-related deaths have increased for the second year running.
“That is why we remain absolutely committed to tackling Scotland’s difficult relationship with alcohol head on. In particular championing the introduction of Minimum Unit Pricing.
“We recognise that no single measure will help change our relationship with alcohol. Our Alcohol Framework has more than 40 measures to reduce alcohol-related harm, such as the multi-buy discount ban, increased investment in alcohol treatment and care services, increased delivery of Alcohol Brief Interventions, legislation to ban irresponsible promotions, and introduction of a lower drink drive limit.
“The Framework has had a positive impact so far, but while an average of around 22 people a week still die because of alcohol, there can be no room for complacency. That is why we are working on the next phase of our alcohol strategy which will be ready in 2016.
“The fact that more than half of alcohol in the off-trade is being sold at under 50p per unit is worrying, given the established link between affordability and alcohol-related harm. It reinforces our belief that minimum unit pricing is an essential part of an effective alcohol strategy.”
