According to well-known health organization Bupa there is very little understanding about the realities of excessive drinking amongst the general British public.
Bupa says that the UK has the highest per capita rate of alcohol consumption in the entire world, this means it is an ingrained part of our culture leaving huge numbers of people believing that there is little or nothing wrong with excessive drinking.
But according to the International Bupa Health Pulse survey which involved no less than 13,000 people spread across 12 nations, British people are a massive 41% more likely to overindulge than the average in the 11 other countries surveyed. We also have a different definition of what might be called ‘regular drinkers’ than other countries perceive, with 9% claiming to drink every day, which is more than double the number is found in other countries
But despite the proven link between excess* alcohol consumption and a range of life-threatening health conditions, more than 1 in 3 of Brits who drink (38%) say they don’t want to change their behaviour. Internationally, almost 3 in 4 of drinkers have admitted they would like to cut down.
Assistant Medical Director for Bupa, Dr Layla McCay said: “This is a worrying observation which implies that Brits are particularly resistant to change when it comes to drinking habits. Whether that is due to a lack of awareness about alcohol effects or whether we are simply in denial, there is clearly more work to be done to raise awareness of the associated risks and the real impact it can have on lives.
“Excessive drinking carries several health risks, including heart disease, stroke, liver disease, many types of cancer, and even diabetes. Something needs to be done immediately and we need to challenge the social norms – social lives too often revolve around drinking and it is important that we work towards coming up with healthier alternatives. It’s not about total abstinence, but it is about drinking responsibly and being aware of the effects that heavy drinking can have.”
Chief Executive of Drinkaware, Chris Sorek, said: “There is always an excuse to drink but there are plenty of reasons to cut down too. It can be easy to drink more than you intended, by not being aware of the units in your favourite drink or pouring large measures at home. However drinking can affect your sleep patterns, meaning you wake up feeling stressed and tired the next day.
“Regularly drinking over the daily guidelines can lead to more serious health harms including alcohol-related liver disease, which has no warning signs. Alcohol is also the second biggest risk factor for cancer after smoking – responsible for cancer of the breast, liver, bowel and mouth.”
For people worried about the amount they drink Bupa hosts a free alcohol calculator available on its website which calculates how much alcohol an individual consumes and provides alcohol information and support on how to drink less.
Related posts:
- North of England see’s surge in at home drinking problems In the North of England drinking at home in and...
- Binge drinking Britons send three people to hospital every minute Because of the increase in binge drinking three Britons every...
- Brits have a 5 year hangover New research says that during the course of the average...
- Breast cancer less prevalent among coffee drinkers A recent study indicates that women who drink a lot...
- Swine flu returns 10 already dead The U.K. was one of the first countries to be...
Related posts brought to you by Yet Another Related Posts Plugin.
