New Drinkaware research reveals LGBTQ+ adults are more likely to experience harm from drinking

• Drinkaware surveyed more than 3,000 LGBTQ+ adults across the UK.
• 70 per cent of LGBTQ+ drinkers engage in binge drinking, compared to 62 per cent of non-LGBTQ+ adult drinkers.
• LGBTQ+ drinkers are more likely to report drinking alone at home in the last 12 months than non-LGBTQ+ drinkers (63 per cent vs 57 per cent).
• Adults from LGBTQ+ communities are more likely to seek support for their drinking.

Seventy per cent of LGBTQ+ individuals who drink were found to engage in binge drinking, compared to 62 per of non-LGBTQ+ drinkers, according to the groundbreaking report Out in the open: alcohol use and harm in LGBTQ+ communities published by Drinkaware today (Tuesday 27 February).

In one of the largest and most comprehensive surveys of the attitudes to drinking of the UK’s LGBTQ+ communities, the charity Drinkaware surveyed more than 3,000 lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer/questioning adults across the UK.

The survey asked individuals who identify as LGBTQ+ about their alcohol use, mental health, and experiences of alcohol-related harm. This data has been weighted to reflect the demographics of all UK lesbian, gay and bisexual adults and compared to the rest of the population from Drinkaware’s annual Monitor survey to highlight alcohol use and harm specific to LGBTQ+ communities. LGBTQ+ adults, on average, skew younger compared to the broader UK adult population, and as such, any differences may be influenced, in part, by age.

The report found that LGBTQ+ individuals are more likely to experience harm from others’ drinking, and that this heightened vulnerability persists across every age group of LGBTQ+ adults. This may stem from experiences of discrimination and stigma.

LGBTQ+ drinkers are more likely to drink in nightlife settings compared to other drinkers, which may amplify their risk of harm from others’ drinking, whether due to sheer proximity or the direct result of stigma and abuse. If you’re interested in finding out about the risks of your drinking habits, complete the free and quick Drinking Check on Drinkaware’s website to receive personalised advice: www.drinkaware.co.uk/drinkingcheck

Karen Tyrell, the charity Drinkaware's Chief Executive, said:

“This is one of the largest surveys ever undertaken to understand LGBTQ+ communities' relationship with alcohol. For too long, this gap in understanding has meant that people have missed vital support and help,

“This research lifts the lid on alcohol consumption and its associated harms within the LGBTQ+ community. By understanding people’s experience and moving beyond blame and stereotypes, we can work together to reduce alcohol-related harm.”

The report also found that:

• Over half (54 per cent) of LGBTQ+ adults reported encountering at least one negative impact from someone else’s drinking in the past year, in comparison to 40 per cent of other adults.
• This gap widens when considering multiple negative impacts from someone else’s drinking, rising to 38 per cent compared to 25 per cent of other adults. They not only face alcohol-related harm from someone else’s drinking more frequently but also experience more severe negative effects, including sexual harm (7 per cent vs 3 per cent) physical threats (14 per cent vs 7 per cent), and other serious consequences.
• LGBTQ+ drinkers were found to be more likely to engage in binge drinking in the last year (70 per cent) compared to their non-LGBTQ+ counterparts (62 per cent).
• LGBTQ+ drinkers are more inclined to consume alcohol at home alone, a finding that spans all age groups within the LGBTQ+ community at 63 per cent as compared to non-LGBTQ+ adults (57 per cent).
• LGBTQ+ drinkers showed a higher likelihood of consuming alcohol in the nighttime economy compared to non-LGBTQ+ adult drinkers, including ‘Evenings or nights out with friends, excluding drinking at home’ (67% vs 65%), and ‘Mixed settings of home drinking and nights out with friends’ (52% vs 46%).
• LGBTQ+ adults face higher rates of depression (33%), anxiety (37%), and overall life dissatisfaction (18%) when compared to non-LGBTQ+ adults (20%, 20% and 12% respectively) – and these challenges are also often linked to hazardous alcohol use.
• Nearly 1 in 5 (19 per cent) LGBTQ+ drinkers recognised their drinking habits could lead to health problems in the future if they continue at their current levels. This is statistically significantly higher than non-LGBTQ+ adult drinkers (17 per cent).
• More than 1 in 3 LGBTQ+ adults (35 per cent) expressed concerns about someone else’s drinking within the past 12 months, a higher figure than the 29 per cent reported non-LGBTQ+ adults.
• LGBTQ+ individuals demonstrated a proactive approach to seeking support. While only 3 per cent of non-LGBTQ+ adults sought assistance for themselves for their drinking, twice as many LGBTQ+ adults reached out for support (6 per cent).

Read the full copy of the report 'Out in the open: alcohol use and harm in LGBTQ+ communities' on our website here.

-ENDS-

Notes to Editors

1. Non-LGBTQ+ adults are those who identify as being cisgender and heterosexual.
2. Drinkaware commissioned YouGov in 2022 to carry out a survey asking 3,089 lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, asexual or queer/questioning (LGBTQ+) people, aged 18+, across all nations of the United Kingdom, about their alcohol use, mental health, and experiences of alcohol-related harm. This data was compared to a cisgender heterosexual population (5,420) derived from Drinkaware’s annual Drinkaware Monitor to highlight alcohol use and harm specific to LGBTQ+ communities.
3. Fieldwork was undertaken between 29th April - 6th June 2022 and the survey was conducted online. Both datasets (LGBTQ+ and the general public) have been weighted to ensure representativeness.
4. Drinkaware is the UK’s leading alcohol charity which aims to reduce alcohol harm. We achieve this by providing impartial, evidence-based information, advice and practical resources; raising awareness of alcohol and its harms and working collaboratively with partners. www.drinkaware.co.uk
5. Founded in 2006 by the UK Government, the devolved administrations and the alcohol industry, Drinkaware is funded by unrestricted voluntary donations from more than 120 organisations. These include UK alcohol producers, retailers, supermarkets, venues, restaurant groups and sports associations.
6. The Chief Medical Officers' guideline for both men and women state that:

• • To keep health risks from alcohol to a low level it is safest not to drink more than 14 units a week on a regular basis.
  • If you regularly drink as much as 14 units per week, it's best to spread your drinking evenly over three or more days. If you have one or two heavy drinking episodes a week, you increase your risk of long-term illness and injury.
  • The risk of developing a range of health problems (including cancers of the mouth, throat and breast) increases the more you drink on a regular basis.
  • If you wish to cut down the amount you drink, a good way to help achieve this is to have several drink-free days a week. 
  • If you are pregnant or think you could become pregnant, the safest approach is not to drink alcohol at all, to keep risks to your baby to a minimum.
  • Drinking in pregnancy can lead to long-term harm to the baby, with the more you drink the greater the risk.