BUT PRESSURE TO
DRINK COULD BE ALL IN THE MIND
Peer pressure to drink to excess could be all in our minds
according to a survey published for the Department of Health today.
A YouGov poll of more than 2,000 English adults suggests over one
in five (22%) people who have ended up drinking more than planned
put it down to peer pressure, while 39% of drinkers feel the need
to make up an excuse or lie to justify refusing a drink.
However, the survey for the Department of Health’s ‘Alcohol
Effects’ campaign shows this is unnecessary as it appears peer
pressure hardly exists.
The poll found:
only 1% of English adults who drink, think less of people who
refuse a drink or choose to drink less than them;just 4% expect
their friends to keep up with them when drinking; andonly 2% admit
to piling on the pressure for friends to drink more when they
don’t want to.
The NHS recommends women do not regularly drink more than 2-3
units a day (about 2 small glasses of wine), and men do not
regularly drink more than 3-4 units a day (about two pints of beer).
Public Health Minister Gillian Merron said:
"Many of us enjoy a drink — drinking sensibly
isn't a problem, but too many are regularly drinking more
than the NHS advises. This means you're at higher risk of
getting cancer or having a stroke or heart attack.
“This survey should encourage us all that it is ok to be honest
with our friends about when we’ve had enough.
“Protecting our long-term health should be a good enough reason
for anyone.”
Health and Wellbeing Expert Liz Tucker said:
“There is sometimes a certain amount of cajoling that goes on
between friends on a night out to have an extra tipple, but people
need to realise this is usually all in good jest, as this research
backs up.
“In reality, nobody really minds when a friend calls it a night
if they feel they’ve had enough, or when our partner doesn’t fancy
sharing a bottle at home – and we should all feel confident enough
to say so.”
Top tips
Rather than having to resort to bending the truth to avoid
drinking, those wanting to drink less could try the following tips:
· Take it a day at a time: try and cut back a little every day.
Each day you cut back is a success.
· Make it a smaller one: you can still enjoy a drink but have
less. Try bottled beer instead of a pint or a small glass of wine
instead of a large.
· Have a lower strength drink: manage how much you drink by
swapping a strong strength beer or wine for one with a lower ABV.
· Take a break: have the odd day here and there when you don’t
have a drink
The health facts:
· You could be three times more likely to have a stroke and three
times more likely to get mouth cancer if you’re a man regularly
drinking more than two pints of strong lager a day.
· You are 50% more likely to get breast cancer and twice as
likely to have high blood pressure, which could lead to a stroke
or a heart attack, if you’re a woman regularly drinking two
glasses of wine or more a day.
More information and tips are available at www.nhs.uk/drinking, where
an interactive drinks tracker can help you work out if you are
regularly drinking above the NHS recommended limits.
Notes to Editors
· For media enquiries only please contact the Department of
Health newsdesk on 0207 210 5221
· All figures, unless otherwise stated, are from YouGov plc.
Total sample size was 2,421 adults living in England. Fieldwork
was undertaken between 16 – 18 November 2009. The survey was
carried out online. The figures have been weighted and are
representative of all English adults (aged 18+).
· The Department of Health’s new ‘Alcohol Effects’ campaign
launched last month and is backed by Cancer Research UK, the
British Heart Foundation and The Stroke Association.
· It features TV, press and poster adverts warning drinkers of
the long-term unseen health damage caused by regularly drinking
more than the NHS advises.
· ‘Regularly’ means drinking every day or most days of the week.
Contacts:
Department of Health
Phone: 020 7210 5221
NDS.DH@coi.gsi.gov.uk