New research has revealed a significant shift in drinking habits across England, with one in four adults now choosing complete abstinence from alcohol. The findings from the comprehensive Health Survey for England indicate a growing sobriety movement, particularly among certain demographic groups and regions.
Survey Reveals Substantial Increase in Non-Drinkers
The extensive questionnaire, which gathered responses from 10,000 individuals, shows that nearly a quarter (24%) of English adults reported not consuming any alcohol in 2024. This represents a notable increase from just under one-fifth (19%) recorded in 2022, suggesting a accelerating trend toward teetotalism.
Gender and Regional Patterns Emerge
The data reveals interesting gender differences in alcohol consumption patterns. Women appear slightly more likely to abstain, with 26% reporting no alcohol consumption compared to 22% of men. However, both genders have shown increased rates of non-drinking compared to previous years.
Geographical variations are equally striking. The West Midlands leads with the highest proportion of non-drinkers at 27%, closely followed by London at 26%. In contrast, north-east England reports the lowest rate of abstinence at just 17%, highlighting significant regional disparities in drinking culture.
Experts Welcome Trend but Warn Against Complacency
Jem Roberts, head of external affairs at the Institute of Alcohol Studies, described the increasing number of non-drinkers as "encouraging" but cautioned against interpreting this as evidence that alcohol-related harm is diminishing.
"This should not distract from the scale of alcohol harm in England," Roberts emphasised. "Millions of people are still drinking at levels that significantly increase their risk of serious harm, from alcohol-related cancers to life-changing injuries and long-term illness, and we have seen record high alcohol deaths in recent years."
Call for Population-Level Interventions
Roberts criticised industry approaches that focus on "targeted" interventions for heavy drinkers, arguing that decades of evidence demonstrate this method's ineffectiveness. Instead, he advocated for comprehensive public health measures including:
- Minimum unit pricing for alcohol products
- Clear health warnings on all alcohol labels
- Restrictions on alcohol availability in communities
- Comprehensive bans on alcohol marketing, particularly that which targets young people
"The most effective way to reduce the record number of alcohol deaths we are seeing is through population-level measures," Roberts stated, highlighting how alcohol marketing specifically drives consumption among children and young adults.
Detailed Drinking Patterns Among Consumers
Among those who do consume alcohol, the survey revealed nuanced patterns of consumption:
- 51% of men and 60% of women drink at levels considered lower risk for alcohol-related harm
- More men (27%) than women (15%) drink at increasing or higher risk levels (exceeding 14 units weekly)
- 5% of men consume over 50 units weekly, while 3% of women exceed 35 units weekly - both classified as higher risk categories
- People aged 65-74 are twice as likely to drink at risky levels (29%) compared to those aged 25-34 (14%)
Broader Health Context
The survey placed alcohol consumption within a wider health landscape, revealing that:
- 27% of adults participate in less than 30 minutes of exercise weekly
- 46% of adults have at least one longstanding illness or condition
- 10% currently use e-cigarettes or vaping products
These findings come alongside previous Institute of Alcohol Studies research indicating that alcohol abuse costs the NHS approximately £4.9 billion annually, with over £3 billion specifically spent on alcohol-related emergency department visits and hospital admissions.
The Department of Health and Social Care has been approached for comment on these significant findings and their implications for public health policy in England.
