According to a recent survey, about one in four adults in England abstain from alcohol, with a noticeable rise among males and younger individuals choosing to remain sober.
The data, gathered from a survey of 10,000 participants as part of the Health Survey for England, indicates that nearly 24% of adults reported no alcohol consumption in 2024, up from roughly 19% in 2022.
Women seem to lead slightly in sobriety, with 26% not drinking, compared to 22% of men. Both genders have shown an increase in non-drinkers over past years.
Interestingly, the survey also highlighted differences across regions. The West Midlands and London had the most significant percentages of non-drinkers, at 27% and 26%, respectively, while the north-east of England stood at 17%.
Jem Roberts, who heads external affairs at the Institute of Alcohol Studies, remarked that it’s positive to see fewer individuals drinking at hazardous levels, but this shouldn’t downplay the extensive harm caused by alcohol in England.
“Millions are still consuming alcohol at dangerous levels, leading to severe health risks, including alcohol-related cancers and life-altering injuries. We’ve witnessed record-high alcohol-related deaths in recent years,” Roberts noted.
He further commented, “The alcohol industry tends to minimize these harms as issues only for a few, promoting ‘targeted’ measures. Yet, extensive evidence indicates that such strategies are ineffective.”
Roberts emphasized that the key to decreasing the rising toll of alcohol-related deaths lies in broad measures, such as minimum pricing, clear health warnings on labels, restrictions on alcohol access, and comprehensive bans on alcohol advertising, which notably elevates consumption among youth.
These findings echo a previous report from the Institute of Alcohol Studies, which discovered that alcohol misuse incurs a cost of £4.9 billion annually to the health service in England, over £3 billion of which is related to emergency visits and hospital admissions.
Among drinkers, the survey revealed that 51% of men and 60% of women consume alcohol at levels that put them at a lower risk of related harm. However, a greater percentage of men (27%) than women (15%) fell into the higher risk category, consuming more than 14 units weekly, with 5% of men and 3% of women exceeding 50 and 35 units weekly, respectively. Age also plays a role, with those aged 65 to 74 being twice as likely to drink at risky levels compared to those aged 25 to 34.
The survey also showcased other notable statistics: 27% of adults reported being inactive, participating in less than 30 minutes of exercise each week, while 46% had at least one long-term health condition. Additionally, 10% of adults currently use e-cigarettes or vapes.
The Department of Health and Social Care has been contacted for further commentary.
