One in five admit drinking more during the pandemic
Nearly one in five people in the North East say they have been drinking more alcohol during the coronavirus pandemic, according to new figures.
Alcohol education charity, Drinkaware has warned of the health risks as, nationally, almost third of drinkers are exceeding drinking guidelines – with some risking serious and long-term damage to their health, if the pandemic drinking trends are not reversed.
It is urging all drinkers stick to the CMO’s low-risk drinking guidelines of no more than 14 units of alcohol a week to keep their risk of alcohol
harm low.
In the North East, 19% of people say they have been drinking more during the pandemic, 13% say they have
consumed less and 26% say they know they should cut back.
Of the latter, 13% are aiming to have a ‘dry January’ and 22% plan to adopt drink-free days in 2021.
Parents with children under 18 were more likely to report drinking more than the national average – 24% compared with a national average of 16%.
Drinkaware is calling on the Government to recognise the impact of increased alcohol consumption as a public health priority and says alcohol consumption should be considered as an important factor in both obesity and mental health strategies.
The charity's evidence and impact director Annabelle Bonus said: “There is a clear and very worrying picture emerging here.
"Certain groups are more vulnerable to the risks from alcohol harm than others, and the pandemic is having a direct impact on many people’s drinking across the country.
“After a year of uncertainty, with more sadly to come, the effects of drinking to excess cannot be swept under the carpet.
"As a nation we must act now.”
The survey also found: *Almost a third (31%) of drinkers in the UK are drinking at increasing or high-risk levels.
*More than half (56%) of people who already drink at higher risk levels – over 35 units a week for women and 50 for men - reported drinking more than they would usually.
*Overall, 16% of UK adults report drinking more alcohol than usual since March, with 19% drinking less.