Scottish Health Survey 2013 - volume 1: main report
Presents results for the 2013 Scottish Health Survey, providing information on the health and factors relating to health of people living in Scotland.
3 Alcohol
Linsay Gray and Alistair H Leyland
SUMMARY
Daily alcohol consumption
- In 2013, men drank an average of 5.2 units on their heaviest drinking day in the previous week; the figure for women was 2.8 units.
- While average unit consumption on the heaviest drinking day in the last week has declined over the years (from 6.5 and 3.6 units for men and women in 2003 to 5.2 units and 2.8 units respectively in 2013), consumption did not change significantly between 2012 and 2013.
Weekly alcohol consumption
- In 2013, one in five women (20%) reported that they did not drink alcohol, a significant increase on previous years (17% in 2012, and 13% in 2003). Twelve percent of men, in 2013, did not drink.
- Adults in Scotland consumed an average of 10.1 units of alcohol per week (13.7 units for men and 6.8 units for women) in 2013.
- Average weekly unit consumption has declined over the years for both men (from 19.8 in 2003 to 13.7 units in 2013) and women (from 9.0 in 2003 to 6.8 units in 2013). The decline in unit consumption between 2012 and 2013 was significant for men (15.2 units to 13.7 units) but not for women.
- Men consumed alcohol on an average of 2.8 days per week in 2013 (a decline from 3.3 days in 2003); for women the equivalent was 2.4 days per week, a decline from 2.7 days in 2003.
- The percentage of adults drinking on more than five days in the previous week declined between 2003 and 2013 (from 20% to 12% for men and from 13% to 9% for women).
- While older drinkers consumed alcohol with greater frequency than younger drinkers, the quantity consumed in each session, and in total, was lower for older drinkers. Over a third of those aged 75 and over described themselves as a non-drinker, with women of this age nearly twice as likely as men to report this (45% and 24%, respectively).
Adherence to government guidelines on alcohol consumption
- The percentage of men exceeding the recommended limit of 3-4 units in any one day fell from 45% in 2003 to 40% in 2013. Over the same period, the percentage of women exceeding their recommended limit of 2-3 units on their heaviest drinking day fell by 7 percentage points (from 37% to 30% in 2012 and 31% in 2013).
- A person is defined as drinking at hazardous or harmful levels if they are a man consuming more than 21 units per week or a woman drinking in excess of 14 units per week. In 2013, just over a fifth of men (22%) and 16% of women drank at hazardous or harmful levels.
- Hazardous or harmful drinking has declined among both men and women since 2003 (from 33% to 22% in men and from 23% to 16% in women) but did not change significantly between 2012 and 2013.
- While men and women with the highest household incomes were most likely to drink at hazardous or harmful levels (27% and 25%, respectively), average weekly unit consumption among hazardous or harmful drinkers was highest among those with the lowest incomes (58.1 units and 35.1 units for male and female hazardous/harmful drinkers in lowest income quintile, respectively).
- Forty-five percent of men and 35% of women drank outwith the government guidelines for weekly and/or daily drinking, a decrease from 53% and 42% respectively in 2003.
- The percentage of adults drinking outwith government guidelines has fallen significantly over the years. While there has been little change in the percentage of adults adhering to the weekly and/or drinking guidelines (44% in 2013), there has been an increase in the proportion of adults describing themselves as an ex-drinker (5% in 2003 and 9% in 2013).
Alcohol Use Disorder Identification Test (AUDIT)
- An AUDIT score of 8 or more indicates a person is drinking at hazardous or harmful levels or has possible alcohol dependence. Men were twice as likely as women to have a score of 8 or more in 2012/2013 (25% compared with 12% of women).
3.1 INTRODUCTION
The range of physical and mental health problems associated with the misuse of alcohol is wide. Excessive drinking is associated with increased risk of high blood pressure, chronic liver disease and cirrhosis, pancreatitis, some cancers, mental ill-health and accidents. The World Health Organization (WHO) cites alcohol as the second largest risk factor for ill-health in wealthy countries, behind tobacco use, and ahead of obesity and high blood pressure.[1]
A report published in 2009 attributed 5% of deaths in Scotland to alcohol.[2] More than 94,500 GP consultations and around 36,000 hospital discharges, each year, are for alcohol-related problems.[3],[4] Alcohol-related morbidity and mortality are not evenly distributed throughout the population and the burden is greatest among those living in the most deprived areas.[5],[6],[7]
The implications of alcohol misuse stretch beyond health and it has effects on wider outcomes including social harms, with alcohol misuse the most widely perceived social issue in Scotland.[5] A report published by Alcohol Focus Scotland in 2013 estimated that 1 in 2 people in Scotland are harmed as a result of someone else's drinking.[8] The relationship between alcohol and crime is well documented. In the 2013 Scottish Prisoner Survey, 45% of prisoners reported being drunk at the time of their offence.[9] It is also thought that alcohol is involved in 70% of assaults requiring treatment at A&E.[10]
Misuse of alcohol also has a negative impact on children with an estimated 36,000 to 51,000 children living with a parent (or guardian) whose alcohol use is potentially problematic.[11],[12] There are also economic impacts, with an estimated 1.5 million working days lost to reduced efficiency in the workplace due to the effects of alcohol, and a similar number lost due to alcohol-related absence.[13] In 2007, the total annual cost of excessive alcohol consumption was estimated to stand around £3.6 billion.[13] Recent findings from the 2013 Scottish Social Attitudes survey showed that public awareness of the harmfulness of alcohol has increased, with 60% citing it as the drug causing most problems in Scotland.[14]
3.1.1 Policy background
One of the 16 National Outcomes underpinning the Scottish Government's core purpose is for people living in Scotland to 'live longer, healthier lives'.[15] Tackling alcohol misuse is integral to ensuring that people in Scotland live longer and to reducing the significant inequalities that exist in society. The government's commitment to addressing alcohol misuse is evidenced by the inclusion of a National Performance Framework National Indicator to 'reduce alcohol related hospital admissions'.[15] Other related indicators include the reduction of premature mortality, reducing reconviction rates and crime victimisation, and reducing deaths on roads.[15]
The Scottish Government published its alcohol strategy Changing Scotland's Relationship with Alcohol: a framework for action in 2009.[16] The strategy, which was accompanied by significant new investment in prevention and treatment services, builds on the Licensing (Scotland) Act 2005, which was implemented in September 2009. More recent legislation includes the Alcohol etc. (Scotland) Act, which was implemented in October 2011 and, among other measures, included the banning of quantity discounts in off-sales, the introduction of restrictions on alcohol displays and promotions, and the introduction of the mandatory Challenge 25 age verification policy.
The Alcohol (Minimum Pricing) (Scotland) Act 2012 allows for a price to be set for a unit of alcohol, below which it cannot be sold. Its implementation date is currently uncertain due to an ongoing legal challenge led by the Scotch Whisky Association, in conjunction with some other European alcohol producers.[17] Informed by modelling carried out by the University of Sheffield,[18] Scottish Ministers have indicated their preference for a minimum unit price of 50p for at least the first two years. It is estimated that ten years after implementation of the policy, when it is considered to have reached full effectiveness, there would be at least 300 fewer alcohol-related deaths and 6,500 fewer hospital admissions each year.[19]
Evaluation of Scotland's alcohol strategy lies with NHS Health Scotland, through the Monitoring and Evaluating Scotland's Alcohol Strategy (MESAS) work programme. The third annual MESAS report, published in December 2013, concluded that there has been 'a recent and sustained decline in alcohol-related harm across most measures'.[20] It was also noted, however, that levels 'are higher than a decade ago and remain persistently higher than England & Wales'.[18]
3.1.2 Measuring alcohol consumption in surveys
The alcohol consumption estimates discussed in this chapter are based on self-reported data collected during the survey interview. It is, however, important to note that surveys often obtain lower consumption estimates than those implied by alcohol sales data. The disjuncture can largely be explained by participants' under-reporting of consumption, but there is also some evidence that survey non-responders are more likely than responders to engage in risky health behaviours, including hazardous alcohol use.[21],[22],[23] The most recently available annual estimates of alcohol sales in Scotland show that 10.9 litres (21.0 units per adult per week) of pure alcohol per person aged 16 and over were sold in 2012 (the equivalent figure for England and Wales was 9.2 litres (17.6 units per adult per week)).[24] This volume is sufficient for every adult aged 16 and over in Scotland to drink 21 units, the weekly maximum consumption level recommended for men.
While self-reported survey estimates of consumption are typically lower than estimates based on sales data, surveys provide valuable information about the social patterning of individuals' alcohol consumption. Findings from the Scottish Health Survey will be used in the evaluation of the implementation of minimum pricing to help assess the impact on consumption patterns across different groups in society.
3.1.3 Reporting on alcohol consumption in the Scottish Health Survey (SHeS)
The key trends for weekly and daily alcohol consumption are updated and presented in this chapter. Levels of alcohol dependency and high risk alcohol use, as measured by the Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test (AUDIT) are also provided. Supplementary tables on alcohol consumption are available on the survey website.[25]
3.1.4 Comparability with other UK statistics
The Health Surveys for England, Wales and Northern Ireland all provide estimates for alcohol consumption. A report published by the Government Statistical Service advises that these estimates, along with SHeS estimates are "not comparable."[26] Mean weekly alcohol consumption statistics are not available for Wales, and estimates of consumption on the heaviest drinking day are not available for Northern Ireland. While questions are similar in each of the surveys, questions on alcohol consumption are delivered through self-completion in the Welsh Health Survey, complicating comparisons. Categorisation of drinkers and non-drinkers is inconsistent across the surveys. Differences also exist in the way some alcoholic drinks are categorised.
3.2 METHODS AND DEFINITIONS
3.2.1 Methods
Questions about drinking alcohol have been included in SHeS since its inception in 1995. Questions are asked either face-to-face via the interviewer or included in the self-completion questionnaire if they are deemed too sensitive for a face-to face interview. All 16-17 year olds are asked about their consumption via the self-completion, as are some 18-19 year olds, at interviewers' discretion. The way in which alcohol consumption is estimated in the survey was changed significantly in 2008. A detailed discussion of those revisions can be found in the chapter on alcohol consumption in the 2008 report.[27]
In 2013, the SHeS questionnaire covered the following aspects of alcohol consumption:
- usual weekly consumption,
- daily consumption on the heaviest drinking day in the previous week, and
- indicators of potential problem drinking (including physical dependence).
Weekly consumption
Participants (aged 16 and over) were asked preliminary questions to determine whether they drank alcohol at all. For those who reported that they drank, these were followed by further questions on how often during the past 12 months they had drunk each of six different types of alcoholic drink:
- normal beer, lager, cider and shandy
- strong beer, lager and cider
- sherry and martini
- spirits and liqueurs
- wine
- alcoholic soft drinks (alcopops).
From these questions, the average number of days a week the participant had drunk each type of drink was estimated. A follow-up question asked how much of each drink type they had usually drunk on each occasion. These data were converted into units of alcohol and multiplied by the amount they said they usually drank on any one day.[28]
Daily consumption
Participants were asked about drinking in the week preceding the interview, with actual consumption on the heaviest drinking day in that week then examined in more detail.[29] Details on the amounts consumed for each of the six types of drink listed in the weekly consumption section above were collected, rather than direct estimates of units consumed.
Problem drinking
Since 2012 the AUDIT questionnaire has been used to assess problem drinking. AUDIT is widely considered to be the best screening tool for detecting problematic alcohol use. It comprises ten indicators of problem drinking, three indicators on consumption, four on use of alcohol considered harmful to oneself or others, and three on physical dependency on alcohol. Given the potentially sensitive nature of these questions, they were administered in self-completion format for all participants.
3.2.2 Calculating alcohol consumption in SHeS
The guidelines on sensible drinking are expressed in terms of units of alcohol consumed. As discussed above, detailed information on both the volume of alcohol drunk in a typical week and on the heaviest drinking day in the week preceding the survey was collected from participants. The volumes reported were not validated. In the UK, a standard unit of alcohol is 10 millilitres or around 8 grams of ethanol. In this chapter, alcohol consumption is reported in terms of units of alcohol.
Questions on the quantity of wine drunk were revised in 2008. Since then, participants reporting drinking any wine have been asked what size of glass they drank from: large (250ml), medium (175ml) and small (125ml). In addition, to help participants make more accurate judgements they are also shown a showcard depicting glasses with 125ml, 175ml and 250ml of liquid. Participants also had the option of specifying the quantity of wine drunk in bottles or fractions of a bottle; with a bottle treated as the equivalent of six small (125ml) glasses.
There are numerous challenges associated with calculating units at a population level, not least of which are the variability of alcohol strengths and the fact that these have changed over time. Table 3A below outlines how the volumes of alcohol reported on in the survey were converted into units (the 2008 report provides full information about how this process has changed over time).[25] Those who drank bottled or canned beer, lager, stout or cider were asked in detail about what they drank, and this information was used to estimate the amount in pints.
Table 3A Alcohol unit conversion factors
| Type of drink |
Volume reported |
Unit conversion factor |
|---|---|---|
| Normal strength beer, lager, stout, cider, shandy (less than 6% ABV) |
Half pint |
1.0 |
| Can or bottle |
Amount in pints multiplied by 2.5 |
|
| Small can |
1.5 |
|
| Large can/bottle |
2.0 |
|
| Strong beer, lager, stout, cider, shandy (6% ABV or more) |
Half pint |
2.0 |
| Can or bottle |
Amount in pints multiplied by 4 |
|
| Small can |
2.0 |
|
| Large can/bottle |
3.0 |
|
| Wine |
250ml glass |
3.0 |
| 175ml glass |
2.0 |
|
| 125ml glass |
1.5 |
|
| 750ml bottle |
1.5 x 6 |
|
| Sherry, vermouth and other fortified wines |
Glass |
1.0 |
| Spirits |
Glass (single measure) |
1.0 |
| Alcopops |
Small can or bottle |
1.5 |
| Large (700ml) bottle |
3.5 |
The recommended sensible drinking guidelines in the UK state that women should not regularly drink more than 2 to 3 units of alcohol per day and men should not regularly exceed 3 to 4 units per day. In addition, the Scottish Government recommends that everyone should aim to have at least two alcohol-free days per week.
It is also recommended that, over the course of a week, women and men should not exceed 14 units and 21 units, respectively. Those who drink within these levels are described as 'moderate' drinkers. Men who consume over 21 and up to 50 units per week and women who consume over 14 and up to 35 units are classed as 'hazardous' drinkers, while those who consume more than 50/35 (men/women) units a week are considered to be drinking at 'harmful' levels.[30]
Hazardous drinking can also be defined according to scores on the AUDIT questionnaire. Guidance on the tool, which is primarily intended to screen respondents for levels of alcohol dependency or high-risk use, has been published by the World Health Organization (WHO). Section 3.2.4 includes a fuller description of the tool.[31]
There is no standard definition of 'binge' drinking in the UK. To aid comparisons between other major surveys of alcohol consumption in Britain, SHeS uses the definition used by the Health Survey for England and the General Lifestyle Survey. Both these surveys define binge drinking as consuming more than 6 units on one occasion for women and more than 8 units for men.
An additional measure of people's adherence to the daily and weekly drinking advice set out above is also reported in this chapter. The two key groups of interest are:
| Adheres to guidelines |
Does not adhere to guidelines |
|
|---|---|---|
| Men drinking |
no more than 21 units per week AND no more than 4 units on heaviest drinking day |
more than 21 units per week AND/OR more than 4 units on heaviest drinking day |
| Women drinking |
no more than 14 units per week AND no more than 3 units on heaviest drinking day |
more than 21 units per week AND/OR more than 4 units on heaviest drinking day |
3.2.4 Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test (AUDIT) scale
The AUDIT questionnaire was primarily designed to screen for levels of alcohol dependency or high-risk use. In line with the WHO guidelines on using the tool, responses to each of the ten AUDIT questions were assigned values of between 0 and 4.[32] Scores for the ten questions were summed to form a scale, from 0 to 40, of alcohol use.
The WHO guidelines[31] for interpreting AUDIT scale scores are as follows:
| Score |
Category description |
|---|---|
| 0 to 7 |
low-risk drinking behaviour, or abstinence |
| 8 to 15 |
medium level of alcohol problems, with increased risk of developing alcohol-related health or social problems (sometimes described as hazardous drinking behaviour) |
| 16-19 |
high level of alcohol problems, for which counselling is recommended (harmful drinking behaviour) |
| 20 or above |
warrants further investigation for possible alcohol dependence. |
3.3 TRENDS IN ESTIMATED CONSUMPTION, FREQUENCY AND ADHERENCE TO DRINKING GUIDELINES
3.3.1 Trends in usual weekly alcohol consumption since 2003
Self-reported weekly alcohol consumption for men, women and all adults is presented in Table 3.1 for the 2003 to 2013 period. The figures show an overall decline in alcohol consumption over this period.
The reported mean number of units of alcohol consumed per adult (aged 16 and above) declined from 14.1 units per week in 2003 to 10.1 units in 2013. Mean weekly unit consumption declined for both men and women over this period (from 19.8 to 13.7 units for men and from 9.0 to 6.8 units for women). Most of the decline in weekly unit consumption occurred between 2003 and 2011. Average weekly unit consumption declined significantly for men between 2012 and 2013 (from 15.2 units per week to 13.7 units) but not for women.
As outlined in Section 3.2.3, moderate weekly alcohol consumption is defined as no more than 21 units for men, and no more than 14 units for women. Those who exceed the guideline on weekly consumption are commonly referred to as hazardous or harmful drinkers. Reported hazardous or harmful drinking declined between 2003 and 2013. In 2003, a third (33%) of men were classified as drinking at hazardous or harmful levels. This fell to a quarter (25%) in 2011 and 2012, and in 2013 just over a fifth (22%) of men fell into the hazardous/ harmful group. Similarly for women, 23% were drinking at hazardous or harmful levels in 2003; by 2010 this had fallen to 18%, and has remained at a similar level since then (16% in 2013). Changes between 2012 and 2013 were not statistically significant for either men or women.
Correspondingly, reported non-drinking increased between 2003 and 2013 for both sexes. In 2003, less than a tenth (8%) of men said that they did not drink alcohol. By 2010, 12% did, and it has remained at this level (11-12%) since then. Similarly, in 2003 and 2008 13% of women reported not drinking, rising to 16-17% between 2009 and 2012 and to 20% in 2013. Figure 3A, Table 3.1
3.3.2 Trends in alcohol consumption on the heaviest drinking day in last week since 2003
Data were collected on the amount of alcohol consumed on the heaviest drinking day in the week prior to interview. This allows estimates for the proportion of the population exceeding recommended daily limits during the last week to be produced, along with the proportion binge drinking during the last week. These data are presented in Table 3.2 for 2003 onwards.
The mean number of units consumed by men on their heaviest drinking day in the previous week fell from 6.5 units in 2003 to 5.2 units in 2013. While these figures represent a decrease over the decade, the most recent figure is still in excess of the recommended daily maximum of 3-4 units for men. For women, daily consumption decreased from an average of 3.6 units in 2003 to 2.8 units in 2012 and 2013 - the latter figure being just under the recommended limit of no more than two to three units per day.
The percentage of men exceeding the recommended daily maximum of 3-4 units in any one day fell from 45% in 2003 to 40% in 2013. Similarly, the percentage of men consuming more than eight units per day (which is classified as binge drinking) declined from 29% in 2003 to 25% from 2011 onwards. Over the same period, the percentage of women exceeding their recommended limit no more than 2-3 units on their heaviest drinking day fell from 37% in 2003 to 30% in 2012 and 31% in 2013. Binge drinking prevalence among women (drinking more than six units a day) followed a similar trend over time falling from 19% in 2003 to 15% in 2012 and 2013. Figure 3B, Table 3.2
3.3.3 Trends in adherence to weekly and daily drinking guidelines since 2003
In contrast with the results discussed in the previous sections, there has been little change in the proportion of adults adhering to the guidelines on weekly and/or daily drinking. The percentage of men drinking within the government guidelines ranged between 39% and 42% over the 2003-2013 period. Similarly, among women adherence was 45% in both 2003 and 2013, with little variation in the intervening period.
However, the percentage of the men drinking outwith the government guidelines on weekly and/or daily consumption fell significantly from 53% to 45% between 2003 and 2013; the equivalent figures for women were 42% and 35%, respectively.
The mismatch in the magnitude of change between those drinking outwith and within the recommended guidelines was largely explained by a shift in the proportion of adults classifying themselves as ex-drinkers. In 2003, 4% of men said they no longer drank, compared with 7% who reported this in 2013. Over the same period, the corresponding figure for women doubled from 5% to 10%. Prevalence of lifelong abstinence has remained stable over the last decade at around 5% for men and 7-10% for women. Table 3.3
3.3.4 Trend in number of days alcohol was consumed in the past week since 2003
The mean number of days on which male and female drinkers consumed alcohol in the previous week has declined since 2003 (Table 3.4). For male drinkers, the average fell from 3.3 days per week in 2003 to 2.8 days by 2013 (the same average number as in 2011 and 2012). The decline was less pronounced for female drinkers (2.7 days per week in 2003, compared with 2.4 days in 2013). The percentage of male drinkers who drank on more than five days out of the previous seven fell from 20% in 2003 to 13% in 2011, and has remained at this level since then (12% in 2013). The equivalent figure for female drinkers was 13% in 2003, and has been 9-10% since 2008. Table 3.4
3.4 ESTIMATED CONSUMPTION, FREQUENCY AND ADHERENCE TO DRINKING GUIDELINES IN 2013, BY AGE AND SEX
3.4.1 Weekly alcohol consumption in 2013, by age and sex
Reported weekly alcohol consumption in 2013 is presented, in Table 3.5, by age and sex. In line with findings from previous years,[25],[27] men consumed more units of alcohol per week than women (an average of 13.7 units, compared with 6.8 units), a pattern which was consistent across all age groups. Generally, for both men and women, those in the middle age groups had the highest reported average weekly consumption levels. For example, men aged 45-64 on average consumed between 15.3 and 17.1 units per week, compared with 8.2 to 13.5 units for men in other age groups.
Similar to the pattern for weekly unit consumption, across all age groups, hazardous or harmful drinking (drinking over the recommended weekly limits) was more prevalent among men than women in 2013 (22% and 16% respectively). The oldest age group (those aged 75 and over) were least likely to be hazardous or harmful drinkers (13% of men and 5% of women this age, compared with 19-29% of men under 75, and 13-21% of women under 75).
Correspondingly, in 2013, women were significantly more likely than men to report not drinking any alcohol (20%, compared with 12%); again, this was the case across all age groups. The proportion of adults describing themselves as a non-drinker also varied significantly by age, with those aged 25-44 least likely to do so. Just 7-9% of men aged 25-44 reported being a non-drinker, compared with 12-13% of those aged 45-74, and 24% of those aged 75 and above. The pattern for women was slightly different: 13-16% of those aged 25-64 described themselves as a non-drinker, compared with 27% of those aged 65-74 and 45% of those aged 75 and above. Table 3.5
3.4.2 Alcohol consumption on the heaviest drinking day in 2013, by age and sex
Table 3.5 also presents findings, for 2013, on the average number of units of alcohol consumed on the heaviest drinking day in the previous week. As with weekly consumption, men consumed more units of alcohol on their heaviest drinking day than women (an average of 5.2 units, compared with 2.8 units) and this higher level of consumption was true across all age groups.
Men were also more likely than women to exceed the government guideline on daily consumption. While four in ten (40%) men exceeded the recommended maximum of no more than 3-4 four units, just over three in ten (31%) women drank outwith their daily limit. In 2013, a quarter of men and 15% of women binge drank (more than 8 units for men and more than 6 units for women) on their heaviest drinking day.
The oldest men and women (aged 75 and over) were least likely to exceed their recommended daily maximum (13% of men and 6% of women this age did so). The corresponding figures for men and women in other age groups were much higher: 33-51% for men, and 21-40% for women. Binge drinking prevalence also varied significantly by age for both genders (Figure 3C & Figure 3D). Similar to weekly consumption, binge drinking prevalence was lowest among men and women aged 75 and over (3% and 1% respectively). Between 25% and 39% of men aged 16-64 binge drank on their heaviest drinking day, falling to 14% for those aged 65-74. Around a fifth of younger women (16-54) binge drank, dropping to 11% for those aged 55-64 and then to 5% for those aged 65-74. Figure 3C, Figure 3D, Table 3.5
3.4.3 Adherence to weekly and daily drinking guidelines in 2013, by age and sex
Concurrent with findings in previous reports,[25] at all ages, men were more likely than women to drink outwith the recommended guidelines on weekly and/or daily drinking (45%, compared with 35%) in 2013. For men, prevalence was greatest among those aged 25-64 (ranging from 47% to 55%), lower among those aged 16-24 (43%) and 65-74 (39%), and lowest for those aged 75 and over (21%). Between 37% and 43% of women aged 16-64 drank outwith the guidelines, compared with 25% of those aged 65-74 and just 9% of those aged 75 and over.
As expected, lifelong abstinence prevalence was high in the youngest age group (those aged 16 to 24) for both men (13%) and women (17%). However, abstinence was most common among women in the oldest age group (24% of those aged 75 and over). Table 3.5
3.4.4 Number of days alcohol was consumed in past week in 2013, by age and sex
The average number of days on which drinkers consumed alcohol in the week prior to interview is also presented in Table 3.5. In 2013, male drinkers drank on an average of 2.8 days per week, significantly more than female drinkers (2.4 days). There was a clear age-related association to the number of days on which alcohol was consumed, with both frequency of drinking days, and the proportion drinking on more than 5 days of the week, increasing in line with age.
As shown in Figure 3E and Table 3.5, this pattern is somewhat at odds with the per capita mean number of alcohol units consumed per week, which was lowest among the oldest age groups. The interpretation is that older drinkers consume smaller amounts with greater frequency, whereas younger drinkers are more likely to consume larger quantities in fewer drinking sessions. Figure 3E, Table 3.5
3.5 DRINKING CATEGORY AND ESTIMATED WEEKLY ALCOHOL CONSUMPTION BY EQUIVALISED HOUSEHOLD INCOME
To increase the sample size available for analysis, the data from the 2012 and 2013 surveys have been combined to report weekly alcohol consumption by equivalised household income quintile (Table 3.6). It is, however, important to note that even with this combined sample, the bases for hazardous/harmful drinkers are relatively small so the mean unit estimates for those groups have wide confidence intervals. To ensure that the comparisons presented are not confounded by the different age profiles of the groups the data have been age-standardised (see the Glossary at the end of this Volume for a detailed description of both age-standardisation and equivalised household income).
For both men and women, there was a significant and linear association between weekly alcohol consumption and equivalised household income. Those in the highest income households were the most likely to drink at hazardous or harmful levels (27% of men and 25% of women), whereas those on the lowest incomes were least likely to do so (20% of men and 11% of women).
Table 3.6 also presents average weekly unit consumption by drinking category, for each of the household income quintiles. Hazardous or harmful drinkers in the lowest household income quintile drank more, on average (58.1 units for men and 35.1 units for women), than hazardous or harmful drinkers in other income quintiles (whose average weekly consumption ranged from 36.8 to 41.2 units for men and 25.5 to 27.6 units for women). This suggests that while people in the lowest income households are less likely than their higher income counterparts to drink at hazardous or harmful levels, those who do, on average consume a far higher number of units. This is in line with findings presented in previous reports.[27] Figure 3F, Table 3.6
3.6 AUDIT SCORES IN 2012/2013 COMBINED, BY AGE AND SEX
In addition to measuring daily and weekly alcohol consumption, assessment of hazardous and harmful drinking behaviour can also be determined using scores calculated from responses to the AUDIT questionnaire (see Section 3.2.4 for further details on the tool, including guidance on scoring). To increase the sample size available, the analysis presented in this chapter is based on data from the 2012 and 2013 surveys combined.
One percent of adults aged 16 and above had an AUDIT score of 20 or more in 2012/2013, indicating that they had possible dependence on alcohol (2% for men and 1% for women). Harmful drinking behaviour (an AUDIT score of 16-19) stood at 2% (2% for men and 1% for women), while hazardous drinking behaviour (an AUDIT score of 8-15) was identified in one in six (15%) adults (21% of men, 10% of women).
Two summary figures are also presented in Table 3.7, the first combines all those with an AUDIT score of 16 or above i.e. harmful and possibly dependent drinking behavior (3% of adults, 4% of men, 2% of women). The second presents all those with a score of 8 or above (18% of adults, 25% of men, 12% of women), i.e. hazardous, harmful or possibly dependent drinking behaviour.
Audit scores varied significantly by age for both men and women (Figures 3G and 3H). The proportion of men classified as either abstinent or low-risk drinkers increased from 60% of those aged 16-24 to 96% of those aged 75 or above. The equivalent figures for women were 73% and 100%, respectively. Prevalence of hazardous, harmful or possibly dependent drinking behaviour was highest for those aged 16-24 (33% of adults) and decreased with age to just 2% for those aged 75 and over. This pattern was seen for both men and women. Figure 3G, Figure 3H, Table 3.7
Table list
Table 3.1 Estimated usual weekly alcohol consumption level, 2003 to 2013
Table 3.2 Estimated units consumed on heaviest drinking day, 2003 to 2013
Table 3.3 Adherence to weekly and daily drinking guidelines, 2003 to 2013
Table 3.4 Number of days on which drank alcohol in the past week, 2003 to 2013
Table 3.5 Estimated usual weekly alcohol consumption level, units consumed on heaviest drinking day, adherence to weekly and daily drinking advice, and number of days on which drank alcohol in the past week, 2013, by age and sex
Table 3.6 Estimated usual weekly alcohol consumption level, 2012/2013 combined, (agestandardised), by equivalised household income quintile and sex; and mean units by drinking category, equivalised household income quintile and sex
Table 3.7 AUDIT scores, 2012/2013 combined, by age and sex
Additional tables available on the survey website include:
- Frequency of drinking any alcoholic drink in the last 12 months, by age & key demographics
- Mean units consumed weekly, by age & key demographics
- Weekly drinking category, by age & key demographics
- Consumed more than 3/4 units on heaviest drinking day, by age & key demographics
- Consumed more than 6/8 units on heaviest drinking day, by age & key demographics
- Mean units consumed on heaviest drinking day, by age & key demographics
- Adherence to both weekly and daily guidelines, by age & key demographics
- Drank on 6 or more days a week, by age & key demographics
- Mean number of days in last week on which drank alcohol, by age & key demographics
- Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test Score (AUDIT), by age & key demographics
- Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test indicators (AUDIT), by age & key demographics
- Where drink alcohol most, by age & key demographics
- Who drink alcohol most with, by age & key demographics
Table 3.1 Estimated usual weekly alcohol consumption level, 2003 to 2013
| Aged 16 and over |
|
2003 to 2013 | |||||
| Alcohol units per week |
2003 |
2008 |
2009 |
2010 |
2011 |
2012 |
2013 |
| % |
% |
% |
% |
% |
% |
% |
|
| Men |
|||||||
| Estimated usual weekly alcohol consumption levela |
|||||||
| Non-drinker |
8 |
10 |
10 |
12 |
11 |
12 |
12 |
| Moderate |
58 |
59 |
63 |
61 |
64 |
63 |
65 |
| Hazardous/Harmful |
33 |
30 |
27 |
27 |
25 |
25 |
22 |
| Mean units per week |
19.8 |
18.0 |
17.5 |
16.0 |
15.0 |
15.2 |
13.7 |
| SE of the mean |
0.62 |
0.53 |
0.75 |
0.50 |
0.42 |
0.59 |
0.48 |
| Women |
|||||||
| Estimated usual weekly alcohol consumption levela |
|||||||
| Non-drinker |
13 |
13 |
16 |
17 |
17 |
17 |
20 |
| Moderate |
64 |
67 |
66 |
65 |
65 |
65 |
64 |
| Hazardous/Harmful |
23 |
20 |
19 |
18 |
18 |
18 |
16 |
| Mean units per week |
9.0 |
8.6 |
7.8 |
7.6 |
7.4 |
7.6 |
6.8 |
| SE of the mean |
0.31 |
0.34 |
0.24 |
0.24 |
0.23 |
0.33 |
0.25 |
| All adults |
|||||||
| Estimated usual weekly alcohol consumption levela |
|||||||
| Non-drinker |
11 |
12 |
13 |
15 |
14 |
15 |
16 |
| Moderate |
61 |
63 |
64 |
63 |
64 |
64 |
65 |
| Hazardous/Harmful |
28 |
25 |
23 |
22 |
21 |
21 |
19 |
| Mean units per week |
14.1 |
13.1 |
12.4 |
11.6 |
11.1 |
11.3 |
10.1 |
| SE of the mean |
0.36 |
0.34 |
0.40 |
0.29 |
0.27 |
0.35 |
0.29 |
| Bases (weighted): |
|||||||
| Men |
3791 |
3011 |
3576 |
3388 |
3551 |
2253 |
2303 |
| Women |
4215 |
3319 |
3912 |
3711 |
3874 |
2464 |
2501 |
| All adults |
8006 |
6330 |
7488 |
7098 |
7425 |
4717 |
4805 |
| Bases (unweighted): |
|||||||
| Men |
3558 |
2796 |
3276 |
3064 |
3239 |
2095 |
2108 |
| Women |
4482 |
3579 |
4232 |
4076 |
4220 |
2657 |
2724 |
| All adults |
8040 |
6375 |
7508 |
7140 |
7459 |
4752 |
4832 |
a Non-drinker: no units per week; Moderate: >0 units and up to 21 units for men / 14 units for women; Hazardous/harmful: more than 21 units for men / 14 units for women
Table 3.2 Estimated units consumed on heaviest drinking day, 2003 to 2013
| Aged 16 and over |
|
2003 to 2013 | |||||
| Alcohol units per day |
2003 |
2008 |
2009 |
2010 |
2011 |
2012 |
2013 |
| % |
% |
% |
% |
% |
% |
% |
|
| Men |
|||||||
| Units consumed on heaviest drinking day (HDD) |
|||||||
| Consumed over 4 units on HDD |
45 |
44 |
44 |
43 |
41 |
42 |
40 |
| Consumed over 8 units on HDD |
29 |
27 |
26 |
26 |
25 |
25 |
25 |
| Mean units on HDD |
6.5 |
6.2 |
5.9 |
6.0 |
5.5 |
5.6 |
5.2 |
| SE of the mean |
0.18 |
0.19 |
0.17 |
0.21 |
0.15 |
0.21 |
0.19 |
| Women |
|||||||
| Units consumed on heaviest drinking day (HDD) |
|||||||
| Consumed over 4 units on HDD |
37 |
36 |
34 |
33 |
34 |
30 |
31 |
| Consumed over 8 units on HDD |
19 |
18 |
17 |
16 |
17 |
15 |
15 |
| Mean units on HDD |
3.6 |
3.5 |
3.2 |
3.1 |
3.2 |
2.8 |
2.8 |
| SE of the mean |
0.10 |
0.14 |
0.09 |
0.09 |
0.09 |
0.11 |
0.10 |
| All adults |
|||||||
| Units consumed on heaviest drinking day (HDD) |
|||||||
| Consumed over 4 units on HDD |
41 |
40 |
39 |
38 |
37 |
36 |
35 |
| Consumed over 8 units on HDD |
24 |
22 |
21 |
21 |
20 |
20 |
19 |
| Mean units on HDD |
4.9 |
4.8 |
4.5 |
4.5 |
4.3 |
4.1 |
3.9 |
| SE of the mean |
0.12 |
0.13 |
0.10 |
0.12 |
0.10 |
0.13 |
0.12 |
| Bases (weighted): |
|||||||
| Men |
3819 |
3015 |
3521 |
3386 |
3549 |
2264 |
2270 |
| Women |
4254 |
3320 |
3865 |
3710 |
3860 |
2460 |
2498 |
| All adults |
8073 |
6335 |
7385 |
7096 |
7409 |
4724 |
4768 |
| Bases (unweighted): |
|||||||
| Men |
3580 |
2801 |
3244 |
3066 |
3242 |
2104 |
2082 |
| Women |
4507 |
3579 |
4202 |
4083 |
4217 |
2659 |
2721 |
| All adults |
8087 |
6380 |
7446 |
7149 |
7459 |
4763 |
4803 |
Table 3.3 Adherence to weekly and daily drinking guidelines, 2003 to 2013
| Aged 16 and over |
|
2003 to 2013 | |||||
| Adherence to weekly and daily drinking guidelinesa,b |
2003 |
2008 |
2009 |
2010 |
2011 |
2012 |
2013 |
| % |
% |
% |
% |
% |
% |
% |
|
| Men |
|||||||
| Never drunk alcohol |
4 |
4 |
4 |
6 |
5 |
5 |
5 |
| Ex drinker |
4 |
6 |
6 |
7 |
6 |
7 |
7 |
| Drinks within government guidelinesa |
39 |
39 |
41 |
39 |
42 |
41 |
42 |
| Drinks outwith government guidelinesb |
53 |
51 |
49 |
49 |
46 |
47 |
45 |
| Women |
|||||||
| Never drunk alcohol |
9 |
7 |
8 |
9 |
9 |
9 |
10 |
| Ex drinker |
5 |
6 |
7 |
8 |
9 |
9 |
10 |
| Drinks within government guidelinesa |
45 |
47 |
47 |
45 |
44 |
47 |
45 |
| Drinks outwith government guidelinesb |
42 |
40 |
38 |
38 |
38 |
35 |
35 |
| All adults |
|||||||
| Never drunk alcohol |
7 |
6 |
6 |
7 |
7 |
7 |
8 |
| Ex drinker |
5 |
6 |
7 |
7 |
8 |
8 |
9 |
| Drinks within government guidelinesa |
42 |
43 |
44 |
42 |
43 |
44 |
44 |
| Drinks outwith government guidelinesb |
47 |
45 |
43 |
43 |
42 |
41 |
40 |
| Bases (weighted): |
|||||||
| Men |
3769 |
2981 |
3519 |
3355 |
3520 |
2234 |
2240 |
| Women |
4203 |
3296 |
3862 |
3675 |
3827 |
2442 |
2469 |
| All adults |
7972 |
6277 |
7381 |
7030 |
7347 |
4677 |
4709 |
| Bases (unweighted): |
|||||||
| Men |
3543 |
2778 |
3242 |
3042 |
3222 |
2085 |
2061 |
| Women |
4469 |
3560 |
4199 |
4055 |
4192 |
2643 |
2702 |
| All adults |
8012 |
6338 |
7441 |
7097 |
7414 |
4728 |
4763 |
a Drank no more than 4 units (men) or 3 units (women) on heaviest drinking day, and drank no more than 21 units (men) or 14 units (women) in usual week
b Drank more than 4 units (men) or 3 units (women) on heaviest drinking day, and/or drank more than 21 units (men) or 14 units (women) in usual week
Table 3.4 Number of days on which drank alcohol in the past week, 2003 to 2013
| Aged 16 and over and drank alcohol in past week |
|
2003 to 2013 | |||||
| % who drank on >5 days / mean number of days drank alcohol in last weeka |
2003 |
2008 |
2009 |
2010 |
2011 |
2012 |
2013 |
| % |
% |
% |
% |
% |
% |
% |
|
| Men |
|||||||
| Number of days on which drank alcohol in the past weeka |
|||||||
| Drank on >5 days |
20 |
17 |
14 |
15 |
13 |
13 |
12 |
| Mean number of days |
3.3 |
3.1 |
2.9 |
2.9 |
2.8 |
2.8 |
2.8 |
| SE of the mean |
0.05 |
0.05 |
0.04 |
0.05 |
0.05 |
0.06 |
0.06 |
| Women |
|||||||
| Number of days on which drank alcohol in the past weeka |
|||||||
| Drank on >5 days |
13 |
10 |
9 |
10 |
10 |
10 |
9 |
| Mean number of days |
2.7 |
2.5 |
2.5 |
2.5 |
2.5 |
2.5 |
2.4 |
| SE of the mean |
0.05 |
0.05 |
0.04 |
0.04 |
0.05 |
0.06 |
0.05 |
| All adults |
|||||||
| Number of days on which drank alcohol in the past weeka |
|||||||
| Drank on >5 days |
17 |
14 |
11 |
13 |
12 |
12 |
11 |
| Mean number of days |
3.0 |
2.8 |
2.7 |
2.7 |
2.7 |
2.7 |
2.6 |
| SE of the mean |
0.04 |
0.04 |
0.03 |
0.04 |
0.04 |
0.05 |
0.04 |
| Bases (weighted): |
|||||||
| Men |
2762 |
2160 |
2497 |
2307 |
2406 |
1551 |
1538 |
| Women |
2472 |
1953 |
2199 |
2070 |
2152 |
1283 |
1285 |
| All adults |
5234 |
4113 |
4696 |
4377 |
4557 |
2834 |
2823 |
| Bases (unweighted): |
|||||||
| Men |
2590 |
1967 |
2266 |
2057 |
2174 |
1405 |
1392 |
| Women |
2609 |
2053 |
2346 |
2200 |
2256 |
1361 |
1354 |
| All adults |
5199 |
4020 |
4612 |
4257 |
4430 |
2766 |
2746 |
a Of those who drank alcohol in the last week
Table 3.5 Estimated usual weekly alcohol consumption level, units consumed on heaviest drinking day, adherence to weekly and daily drinking guidelines and number of days on which drank alcohol in the past week, 2013, by age and sex
| Aged 16 and over |
|
2013 | ||||||
| Alcohol units per weeka / alcohol units per day / adherence to weekly and daily drinking guidelinesb,c / % who drank on >5 days / mean number of days drank alcohol in last weekd |
Age |
Total |
||||||
| 16-24 |
25-34 |
35-44 |
45-54 |
55-64 |
65-74 |
75+ |
||
| % |
% |
% |
% |
% |
% |
% |
% |
|
| Men |
||||||||
| Estimated usual weekly alcohol consumption levela |
||||||||
| Non-drinker |
15 |
7 |
9 |
12 |
13 |
13 |
24 |
12 |
| Moderate |
66 |
68 |
71 |
65 |
58 |
66 |
63 |
65 |
| Hazardous/Harmful |
19 |
24 |
20 |
23 |
29 |
21 |
13 |
22 |
| Mean units per week |
11.6 |
13.5 |
13.1 |
15.3 |
17.1 |
13.4 |
8.2 |
13.7 |
| SE of the mean |
1.32 |
1.05 |
1.05 |
1.30 |
1.29 |
1.07 |
0.90 |
0.48 |
| Units consumed on heaviest drinking day (HDD) |
||||||||
| Consumed over 4 units on HDD |
36 |
51 |
42 |
42 |
45 |
33 |
13 |
40 |
| Consumed over 8 units on HDD |
25 |
39 |
25 |
26 |
25 |
14 |
3 |
25 |
| Mean units on HDD |
5.1 |
7.5 |
5.4 |
5.6 |
5.3 |
3.6 |
1.9 |
5.2 |
| SE of the mean |
0.65 |
0.69 |
0.40 |
0.40 |
0.34 |
0.26 |
0.20 |
0.19 |
| Adherence to weekly and daily drinking guidelines |
||||||||
| Never drunk alcohol |
13 |
4 |
5 |
4 |
3 |
2 |
9 |
5 |
| Ex drinker |
2 |
4 |
3 |
8 |
11 |
11 |
15 |
7 |
| Drinks within government guidelinesb |
42 |
37 |
45 |
40 |
37 |
48 |
55 |
42 |
| Drinks outwith government guidelinesc |
43 |
55 |
47 |
48 |
49 |
39 |
21 |
45 |
| Number of days on which drank alcohol in the past weekd |
||||||||
| Drank on >5 days |
3 |
4 |
7 |
11 |
22 |
24 |
29 |
12 |
| Mean number of days |
1.9 |
2.3 |
2.6 |
2.8 |
3.4 |
3.5 |
3.5 |
2.8 |
| SE of the mean |
0.13 |
0.10 |
0.12 |
0.13 |
0.15 |
0.17 |
0.24 |
0.06 |
| Women |
||||||||
| Estimated usual weekly alcohol consumption levela |
||||||||
| Non-drinker |
20 |
13 |
14 |
16 |
15 |
27 |
45 |
20 |
| Moderate |
65 |
73 |
69 |
64 |
66 |
59 |
50 |
64 |
| Hazardous/Harmful |
15 |
14 |
18 |
21 |
19 |
13 |
5 |
16 |
| Mean units per week |
7.5 |
6.5 |
7.1 |
9.0 |
7.5 |
5.5 |
2.4 |
6.8 |
| SE of the mean |
0.97 |
0.51 |
0.47 |
0.76 |
0.58 |
0.58 |
0.34 |
0.25 |
| Units consumed on heaviest drinking day (HDD) |
||||||||
| Consumed over 4 units on HDD |
35 |
33 |
38 |
40 |
34 |
21 |
6 |
31 |
| Consumed over 8 units on HDD |
19 |
19 |
21 |
21 |
11 |
5 |
1 |
15 |
| Mean units on HDD |
3.2 |
3.3 |
3.6 |
3.5 |
2.6 |
1.7 |
0.7 |
2.8 |
| SE of the mean |
0.40 |
0.30 |
0.27 |
0.20 |
0.18 |
0.15 |
0.09 |
0.10 |
| Adherence to weekly and daily drinking guidelines |
||||||||
| Never drunk alcohol |
17 |
7 |
7 |
5 |
5 |
12 |
24 |
10 |
| Ex drinker |
4 |
6 |
7 |
11 |
11 |
16 |
21 |
10 |
| Drinks within government guidelinesb |
39 |
49 |
44 |
41 |
47 |
47 |
46 |
45 |
| Drinks outwith government guidelinesc |
40 |
37 |
42 |
43 |
38 |
25 |
9 |
35 |
| Number of days on which drank alcohol in the past weekd |
||||||||
| Drank on >5 days |
- |
2 |
4 |
7 |
17 |
18 |
24 |
9 |
| Mean number of days |
1.6 |
1.9 |
2.1 |
2.4 |
3.0 |
2.9 |
3.1 |
2.4 |
| SE of the mean |
0.09 |
0.10 |
0.10 |
0.11 |
0.15 |
0.18 |
0.29 |
0.05 |
| All adults |
||||||||
| Estimated usual weekly alcohol consumption levela |
||||||||
| Non-drinker |
18 |
10 |
11 |
14 |
14 |
21 |
36 |
16 |
| Moderate |
65 |
71 |
70 |
64 |
62 |
62 |
55 |
65 |
| Hazardous/Harmful |
17 |
19 |
19 |
22 |
24 |
17 |
8 |
19 |
| Mean units per week |
9.6 |
9.9 |
10.0 |
12.1 |
12.2 |
9.3 |
4.8 |
10.1 |
| SE of the mean |
0.80 |
0.62 |
0.58 |
0.88 |
0.78 |
0.67 |
0.47 |
0.29 |
| Units consumed on heaviest drinking day (HDD) |
||||||||
| Consumed over 4 units on HDD |
35 |
42 |
40 |
41 |
39 |
26 |
9 |
35 |
| Consumed over 8 units on HDD |
22 |
29 |
23 |
23 |
18 |
9 |
2 |
19 |
| Mean units on HDD |
4.1 |
5.3 |
4.5 |
4.5 |
3.9 |
2.6 |
1.2 |
4.0 |
| SE of the mean |
0.39 |
0.42 |
0.26 |
0.25 |
0.21 |
0.17 |
0.11 |
0.12 |
| Adherence to weekly and daily drinking guidelines |
||||||||
| Never drunk alcohol |
15 |
6 |
6 |
4 |
4 |
7 |
18 |
8 |
| Ex drinker |
3 |
5 |
5 |
10 |
11 |
14 |
19 |
9 |
| Drinks within government guidelinesb |
40 |
44 |
44 |
41 |
42 |
47 |
50 |
44 |
| Drinks outwith government guidelinesc |
41 |
46 |
44 |
45 |
43 |
32 |
14 |
40 |
| Number of days on which drank alcohol in the past weekd |
||||||||
| Drank on >5 days |
2 |
3 |
5 |
9 |
20 |
21 |
27 |
11 |
| Mean number of days |
1.8 |
2.1 |
2.3 |
2.6 |
3.2 |
3.3 |
3.3 |
2.6 |
| SE of the mean |
0.08 |
0.08 |
0.09 |
0.09 |
0.12 |
0.13 |
0.19 |
0.04 |
| Bases (weighted): |
||||||||
| Men: alcohol units per week |
309 |
362 |
387 |
435 |
365 |
267 |
178 |
2303 |
| Men: alcohol units per day |
300 |
358 |
383 |
428 |
356 |
266 |
178 |
2270 |
| Men: adherence to weekly and daily drinking guidelines |
280 |
350 |
383 |
428 |
355 |
265 |
178 |
2240 |
| Men: number of days drank alcohol in last week |
189 |
263 |
263 |
295 |
256 |
173 |
99 |
1538 |
| Women: alcohol units per week |
298 |
386 |
412 |
460 |
381 |
303 |
263 |
2501 |
| Women: alcohol units per day |
308 |
380 |
409 |
456 |
382 |
300 |
263 |
2498 |
| Women: adherence to weekly and daily drinking guidelines |
286 |
376 |
407 |
455 |
381 |
300 |
263 |
2469 |
| Women: number of days drank alcohol in last week |
150 |
188 |
243 |
277 |
219 |
130 |
78 |
1285 |
| All adults: alcohol units per week |
607 |
748 |
798 |
895 |
746 |
570 |
441 |
4805 |
| All adults: alcohol units per day |
608 |
738 |
792 |
884 |
738 |
567 |
441 |
4768 |
| All adults: adherence to weekly and daily drinking guidelines |
566 |
726 |
791 |
884 |
736 |
566 |
441 |
4709 |
| All adults: number of days drank alcohol in last week |
339 |
451 |
506 |
571 |
475 |
303 |
177 |
2823 |
| Bases (unweighted): |
||||||||
| Men: alcohol units per week |
187 |
305 |
339 |
393 |
351 |
316 |
217 |
2108 |
| Men: alcohol units per day |
184 |
303 |
335 |
385 |
343 |
315 |
217 |
2082 |
| Men: adherence to weekly and daily drinking guidelines |
172 |
297 |
335 |
385 |
341 |
314 |
217 |
2061 |
| Men: number of days drank alcohol in last week |
115 |
214 |
233 |
267 |
245 |
200 |
118 |
1392 |
| Women: alcohol units per week |
221 |
416 |
431 |
538 |
441 |
373 |
304 |
2724 |
| Women: alcohol units per day |
228 |
412 |
430 |
535 |
441 |
371 |
304 |
2721 |
| Women: adherence to weekly and daily drinking guidelines |
216 |
409 |
428 |
534 |
440 |
371 |
304 |
2702 |
| Women: number of days drank alcohol in last week |
97 |
201 |
248 |
320 |
246 |
153 |
89 |
1354 |
| All adults: alcohol units per week |
408 |
721 |
770 |
931 |
792 |
689 |
521 |
4832 |
| All adults: alcohol units per day |
412 |
715 |
765 |
920 |
784 |
686 |
521 |
4803 |
| All adults: adherence to weekly and daily drinking guidelines |
388 |
706 |
763 |
919 |
781 |
685 |
521 |
4763 |
| All adults: number of days drank alcohol in last week |
212 |
415 |
481 |
587 |
491 |
353 |
207 |
2746 |
a Non-drinker: no units per week; Moderate: >0 units and up to 21 units for men / 14 units for women; Hazardous/harmful: more than 21 units for men / 14 units for women
b Drank no more than 4 units (men) or 3 units (women) on heaviest drinking day, and drank no more than 21 units (men) or 14 units (women) in usual week
c Drank more than 4 units (men) or 3 units (women) on heaviest drinking day, and/or drank more than 21 units (men) or 14 units (women) in usual week
d Of those who drank alcohol in the last week
Table 3.6 Estimated usual weekly alcohol consumption level, 2012/2013 combined, (age-standardised), by equivalised household income quintile and sex, mean units by drinking category, equivalised household income quintile and sex
| Aged 16 and over |
|
2012/2013 combined | |||
| Drinking categorya/ Units per week |
Equivalised annual household income quintile |
||||
| 1st |
2nd |
3rd |
4th |
5th |
|
| (highest) |
(lowest) |
||||
| % |
% |
% |
% |
% |
|
| Men |
|||||
| Non-drinker |
5 |
7 |
11 |
14 |
24 |
| Moderate |
69 |
65 |
67 |
65 |
56 |
| Hazardous/Harmful |
27 |
27 |
22 |
21 |
20 |
| Mean units |
|||||
| Moderate |
8.6 |
7.2 |
7.5 |
6.7 |
6.6 |
| Hazardous/Harmful |
41.0 |
36.8 |
38.5 |
41.2 |
58.1 |
| SE of the mean |
|||||
| Moderate |
0.32 |
0.31 |
0.38 |
0.38 |
0.42 |
| Hazardous/Harmful |
1.71 |
1.10 |
2.14 |
2.80 |
5.01 |
| Women |
|||||
| Non-drinker |
11 |
12 |
16 |
21 |
27 |
| Moderate |
64 |
70 |
66 |
67 |
62 |
| Hazardous/Harmful |
25 |
18 |
17 |
12 |
11 |
| Mean units |
|||||
| Moderate |
4.8 |
4.2 |
4.0 |
3.8 |
3.5 |
| Hazardous/Harmful |
26.0 |
27.6 |
25.5 |
26.3 |
35.1 |
| SE of the mean |
|||||
| Moderate |
0.22 |
0.19 |
0.18 |
0.20 |
0.21 |
| Hazardous/Harmful |
1.06 |
2.06 |
1.21 |
1.61 |
3.01 |
| Bases (weighted): |
|||||
| Men |
929 |
913 |
704 |
674 |
632 |
| Men: moderate |
637 |
598 |
472 |
435 |
352 |
| Men: hazardous/harmful |
250 |
248 |
155 |
145 |
127 |
| Women |
842 |
826 |
799 |
854 |
810 |
| Women: moderate |
539 |
577 |
529 |
574 |
501 |
| Women: hazardous/harmful |
211 |
151 |
138 |
102 |
92 |
| Bases (unweighted): |
|||||
| Men |
839 |
824 |
693 |
685 |
589 |
| Men: moderate |
561 |
544 |
455 |
444 |
329 |
| Men: hazardous/harmful |
228 |
220 |
150 |
132 |
122 |
| Women |
900 |
905 |
900 |
982 |
870 |
| Women: moderate |
578 |
633 |
620 |
636 |
534 |
| Women: hazardous/harmful |
246 |
173 |
143 |
103 |
101 |
a Non-drinker: no units per week; Moderate: >0 but <21 (men) or <14 (women) units; Hazardous: >=21 but <51 (men) or >=14 but <36 (women) units; Harmful: >=51 (men) or >=36 (women) units
Table 3.7 AUDIT scores, 2012/2013 combined, by age and sex
| Aged 16 and over |
|
2012/2013 combined | ||||||
| AUDIT |
Age |
Total |
||||||
| 16-24 |
25-34 |
35-44 |
45-54 |
55-64 |
65-74 |
75+ |
||
| % |
% |
% |
% |
% |
% |
% |
% |
|
| Men |
||||||||
| Low risk drinking or abstinence (0-7) |
60 |
65 |
75 |
77 |
79 |
86 |
96 |
75 |
| Hazardous drinking (8-15) |
33 |
28 |
22 |
18 |
19 |
12 |
4 |
21 |
| Harmful drinking (16-19) |
5 |
5 |
2 |
2 |
1 |
1 |
- |
2 |
| Possible alcohol dependence (20+) |
2 |
2 |
2 |
2 |
1 |
1 |
0 |
2 |
| Score of 8 or more |
40 |
35 |
25 |
23 |
21 |
14 |
4 |
25 |
| Score of 16 or more |
7 |
7 |
3 |
4 |
2 |
2 |
0 |
4 |
| Women |
||||||||
| Low risk drinking or abstinence (0-7) |
73 |
84 |
87 |
89 |
94 |
96 |
100 |
88 |
| Hazardous drinking (8-15) |
21 |
15 |
11 |
10 |
5 |
3 |
0 |
10 |
| Harmful drinking (16-19) |
3 |
0 |
1 |
1 |
0 |
0 |
- |
1 |
| Possible alcohol dependence (20+) |
3 |
0 |
1 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
- |
1 |
| Score of 8 or more |
27 |
16 |
13 |
11 |
6 |
4 |
0 |
12 |
| Score of 16 or more |
6 |
1 |
2 |
1 |
1 |
1 |
- |
2 |
| All adults |
||||||||
| Low risk drinking or abstinence (0-7) |
67 |
75 |
81 |
83 |
87 |
91 |
98 |
82 |
| Hazardous drinking (8-15) |
27 |
21 |
16 |
14 |
12 |
7 |
2 |
15 |
| Harmful drinking (16-19) |
4 |
2 |
1 |
1 |
0 |
1 |
- |
2 |
| Possible alcohol dependence (20+) |
2 |
1 |
1 |
1 |
1 |
1 |
0 |
1 |
| Score of 8 or more |
33 |
25 |
19 |
17 |
13 |
9 |
2 |
18 |
| Score of 16 or more |
7 |
4 |
3 |
3 |
1 |
1 |
0 |
3 |
| Bases (weighted): |
||||||||
| Men |
584 |
656 |
686 |
795 |
653 |
483 |
282 |
4140 |
| Women |
577 |
715 |
757 |
840 |
700 |
543 |
436 |
4567 |
| All adults |
1160 |
1371 |
1443 |
1635 |
1354 |
1026 |
718 |
8708 |
| Bases (unweighted): |
||||||||
| Men |
333 |
483 |
621 |
743 |
643 |
636 |
357 |
3816 |
| Women |
413 |
696 |
844 |
962 |
815 |
690 |
529 |
4949 |
| All adults |
746 |
1179 |
1465 |
1705 |
1458 |
1326 |
886 |
8765 |
Contact
Email: Julie Landsberg
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