A recent report has ranked European countries based on the prevalence of binge drinking, with the UK showing concerning figures, especially among women and adolescents. The research, conducted by the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD), highlights a growing trend in excessive alcohol consumption, sparking concerns about the effectiveness of public health warnings on the dangers of alcohol.
The OECD study defines heavy episodic drinking as consuming six or more alcoholic beverages in a single session, a threshold that aligns with current NHS guidelines for safe alcohol consumption. According to these guidelines, women should limit their intake to no more than six drinks per week, spread across seven days. Yet, the study revealed that a quarter of women in the UK regularly exceed this limit, indulging in binge drinking on a consistent basis. Only Denmark reported higher binge-drinking rates among women.
Among men, 45% of British participants admitted to binge drinking, placing the UK fifth in the rankings behind Romania, Denmark, Finland, and Luxembourg. Despite this, the UK still ranks third overall in terms of alcohol consumption, signaling a major public health issue.
More alarmingly, British teenage girls, especially those under 15, were found to have the highest binge-drinking rates in Europe. A staggering 12% of 13-year-old girls in the UK admitted to having been drunk at least twice, despite the legal drinking age being 18. Only Bulgaria had a higher rate, with 14% of young girls reporting similar experiences. Among British boys of the same age, 9% confessed to binge drinking. Additionally, 3% of 11-year-old boys and 2% of girls reported having consumed alcohol.
Experts expressed growing concern about the long-term consequences of underage binge drinking, which is associated with poorer academic performance and an increased likelihood of developing alcohol dependence later in life. In particular, there is concern about the way alcohol is marketed to young women, with critics noting that advertisements often portray alcohol consumption as a socially acceptable and feminine practice.
The report analyzed drinking habits across 38 countries, finding that Turkey had the lowest levels of binge drinking, with just 1% of women and 5% of men regularly consuming alcohol at harmful levels. In contrast, the UK’s binge-drinking rates stand in stark contrast to this global outlier.
Professor Sir Ian Gilmore, chairman of the Alcohol Health Alliance UK, called the rising levels of drinking among young girls a “real cause for concern.” He highlighted that, in 2022, the rate of premature deaths from alcohol-related liver disease in women was 6.5 per 100,000 individuals under 75 — a figure higher than that for men. The increase in liver disease-related deaths among women has been particularly noticeable over the past two decades.
While the exact reasons behind this trend remain unclear, experts suggest that cultural shifts and targeted marketing by alcohol companies are likely contributing factors. Dr. Katherine Severi, chief executive of the Institute of Alcohol Studies, emphasized that any level of underage drinking is detrimental to young people’s health. She pointed out that research shows early exposure to alcohol increases the risk of alcohol-related problems in later life, and stressed the importance of delaying the initiation of drinking for as long as possible.
The UK’s drinking culture, often described as laissez-faire, may be exacerbating the problem. The OECD report suggested that alcohol-related harm could be mitigated through stricter regulations and better enforcement of existing policies. While European Union countries have implemented measures such as higher taxes on alcohol, restrictions on availability, and advertising controls, the report notes that these efforts are often hindered by poor implementation, insufficient resources, and resistance from the alcohol industry.
As the UK grapples with its binge-drinking culture, health experts continue to urge a reassessment of alcohol policies, particularly when it comes to protecting vulnerable populations, such as adolescents and young women, from the long-term consequences of excessive drinking.
Related topics
