How your friends can drive you to drink

MANY who have tried to give up drinking will know that perhaps the biggest challenge is dealing with boozing buddies determined to get us off the wagon.

Now, research has confirmed that peer pressure is indeed the greatest influence when it comes to drinking alcohol.

Nearly nine in ten Scots say they have been urged to ‘just have one’ – and a survey found coercion by friends is the main factor in feeling bullied into drinking.

Seven in ten said they would be asked if there was something wrong to explain why they were not drinking. The study was carried out on more than 500 Scots, some of whom were undertaking alcohol-free challenges.

It was commissioned by the One Year No Beer (OYNB) campaign, which encourages people to go sober for a period of time – from four weeks up to a year or longer.

Co-founder Ruari Fairbairns said: ‘It’s easy to cave in under peer pressure when everyone around you is having a great time getting stuck in.

‘It’s expected of you to drink; it goes against the grain if you don’t.

‘Why is it that it’s the people we call our friends who find it hardest of any of our relationships to accept when we say no?’

The harm caused by alcohol in Scotland is estimated to cost £ .6billion a year in health, crime and wider costs.

Official statistics suggest that one in four Scots drinks at ‘harmful levels’ – more than 14 units a week. Only 16 per cent of Scots say they are non-drinkers. The biggest concern among people in abstaining is the fear of appearing ‘boring’. Half of respondents said they were worried about being left out if they did not drink.

Nearly 80 per cent of men and women reported social events as the top trigger for boozing.

OYNB offers participants tips for surviving life alcohol-free. The programme includes advice for going teetotal at events such as weddings, stag weekends and holidays.