Welsh teetotallers are blazing a trail

WALES’ problems with binge drinking are welldocumented and most of us will have had shuddered at the alcohol-fuelled mayhem which can grip our town and city centres.

Likewise, the pressure problem drinking puts on the NHS is nothing short of a scandal. It is a burden that makes the tasks of paramedics and accident and emergency staff even more difficult, and the long-term conditions linked to excess drinking are a source of public expense and private misery.

The social cost of people’s dysfunctional relationship with alcohol is similarly immense, and lives are ruined when drunkenness leads to criminal violence and abuse.

But another story is unfolding in Wales and across Great Britain. Growing numbers of people are happy to be known as teetotallers.

Some will be motivated by faith; others by health; still others by economic concerns. But all these people show it is possible to lead a full life without the consumption of alcohol.

Last year 23% of people in Wales were teetotallers – a higher share of the population than in Scotland (21%) or England (20%).

Half (50%) of people in Wales said they drank in the past week. This compares with 53% in Scotland and 58% in England.

Drinking can seem a non-negotiable part of social life in Wales, whether it’s a trip to watch the rugby or a meet-up with friends. There is often a true camaraderie that comes with sharing a round of drinks – the presence of alcohol signals that this is a gathering where levity is a priority and there is a common determination to escape the sobriety of the work environment.

It can take guts to turn down the offer of a pint or a glass of wine. Nobody wants to look like a killjoy or appear to cast judgement on their friends.

But as nearly a quarter of people in Wales know well, it is possible to enjoy brilliant, laughter-rich time with friends without alcoholic stimulation. The good times will not be dulled by inebriation and the best lines of the night will be remembered the next morning.

Pubs and clubs should be urged to offer a more exciting and affordable range of non-alcoholic drinks. Councils should consider ways to encourage cafes to open late at night, and friends and family should resolve to support everyone who decides it’s time for a life free of alcohol. It’s time for a sharper, healthier, safer, richer Wales.