Alcohol Consumption UK

In 2024, 24% of adults (aged 16+) did not drink alcohol.

• 22% of men and 26% of women did not drink alcohol.

• Adults aged 16 to 24 were most likely to be non-drinkers (35%), while adults aged 55 to 64 were the least likely (16%).

• The proportion of non-drinkers increased from 17% to 24% between 2011 and 2024.

Source: Health Survey for England

In 2024/25, 17% of adults (aged 16+) did not drink alcohol.

• The proportion of non-drinkers remained stable between 2016/17 and 2024/25 (17%).

Note: Data from the National Survey for Wales does not include a breakdown of non-drinkers by age or gender in 2024/25.

Source: National Survey for Wales

In 2024, 20% of adults (aged 16+) did not drink alcohol.

• 18% of men and 22% of women did not drink alcohol.

• Adults aged 75+ were most likely to be non-drinkers (28%), while adults aged 55 to 64 were the least likely (16%).

• The proportion of non-drinkers increased from 14% to 20% between 2011 and 2024.

Source: Scottish Health Survey

In 2024/25, 24% of adults (aged 18+) did not drink alcohol.

• 21% of men and 27% of women did not drink alcohol.

• Adults aged 75+ were the most likely to be non-drinkers (43%), while adults aged 35 to 44 were the least likely (19%). 

• The proportion of non-drinkers has remained relatively stable between 2010/11 and 2024/25 (23% to 24%).

Source: Health Survey Northern Ireland

In 2024, 44% of adults (aged 16+) drank alcohol on at least one day each week.

• 50% of men and 38% of women drank alcohol on at least one day each week.

• Adults aged 55 to 64 and 65 to 74 were the most likely to have drank alcohol on at least one day each week (55% for both age groups), while adults aged 16 to 24 were the least likely (30%). 

• The proportion of adults who drink at least once a week declined from 54% to 44% between 2011 and 2024.

Source: Health Survey for England

In 2022/23, 44% of adults (aged 16+) drank alcohol on at least one day each week.

• 52% of men and 36% of women drank alcohol on at least one day each week.

• Adults aged 45 to 64 were the most likely to drink alcohol on at least one day each week while adults aged 16 to 44 were the least likely (52% vs 33%).

• The proportion of adults who drink at least once a week declined from 48% to 44% between 2020/21 and 2022/23.

Note: The 2022/23 data is the most recent drinking frequency data collected by the National Survey for Wales. 

Source: National Survey for Wales

In 2024, 47% of adults (aged 16+) drank alcohol on at least one day each week.

• 55% of men and 39% of women drank alcohol on at least one day each week.

• Adults aged 65 to 74 were the most likely to drink alcohol on at least one day each week (61%), while adults aged 16 to 24 were the least likely (34%). 

• The proportion of adults who drink at least once a week declined from 55% to 47% between 2011 and 2024.

Source: Scottish Health Survey

In 2024/25, 45% of drinkers (aged 18+) drank alcohol on at least one day each week.

• 53% of male drinkers and 38% of female drinkers drank on at least one day each week.

• Drinkers aged 65 to 74 were the most likely to drink alcohol on at least one day each week (59%) while drinkers aged 18 to 34 were the least likely (33%). 

• The proportion of drinkers who drink at least once a week declined from 54% to 45% between 2010/11 and 2024/25.

Source: Health Survey Northern Ireland

In 2024, 55% of adults (aged 16+) drank up to 14 units each week and 21% drank more than 14 units.

• 27% of men and 15% of women drank more than 14 units each week.

• The 65 to 74 age group had the highest proportion of adults consuming more than 14 units each week (29%), while the 25 to 34 age group had the lowest proportion (14%).

• The proportion of adults drinking more than 14 units each week declined from 26% to 21% between 2011 and 2024.

Source: Health Survey for England

In 2024/25, 67% of adults (aged 16+) drank up to 14 units each week and 15% drank more than 14 units.

• The proportion of adults drinking more than 14 units each week declined from 20% to 15% between 2016/17 and 2024/25. 

Note: Data from the National Survey for Wales does not include a breakdown of weekly consumption by age or gender in 2024/25. 

Source: National Survey for Wales

In 2024, 59% of adults (aged 16+) drank up to 14 units each week and 20% drank more than 14 units.

• 29% of men and 13% of women drank more than 14 units each week.

• The 55 to 64 age group had the highest proportion of adults consuming more than 14 units each week (28%), while the 35 to 44 age group had the lowest proportion (13%). 

• The proportion of adults drinking more than 14 units each week declined from 28% to 20% between 2011 and 2024.

Source: Scottish Health Survey

In 2024/25, 63% of adults (aged 18+) drank up to 14 units each week and 13% drank more than 14 units.

• 19% of men and 7% of women drank more than 14 units each week.

• Adults aged 45 to 54 and 65 to 74 were the most likely to drink more than 14 units each week (17% for both groups) whereas adults aged 75+ were the least likely (8%). 

• The proportion of adults drinking more than 14 units each week declined from 25% to 13% between 2010/11 and 2024/25.

Source: Health Survey Northern Ireland

In 2024, 16% of adults (aged 16+) reported binge drinking in the last week.

• 18% of men reported binge drinking in the last week compared to 14% of women.

• Adults aged 45 to 54 and 55 to 64 were most likely to report binge drinking in the last week (20% for both age groups), whereas adults aged 75+ were the least likely (5%). 

• The proportion of adults who reported binge drinking in the last week remained relatively stable from 17% to 16% between 2011 and 2024. 

Source: Health Survey for England

In 2019/20, 13% of adults (aged 16+) reported binge drinking in the last week.

• The proportion of adults who reported binge drinking in the previous week declined from 16% to 13% between 2016/17 and 2019/20.

Note: The National Survey for Wales has not collected binge drinking data since 2019/20. 

Source: National Survey for Wales

In 2024, 13% of adults (aged 16+) reported binge drinking in the last week.

• 15% of men reported binge drinking in the last week compared to 10% of women.

• Adults aged 45 to 54 were the most likely to report binge drinking in the last (16%), while adults aged 75+ were the least likely (3%). 

• The proportion of adults who reported binge drinking in the last week declined from 20% to 13% between 2011 and 2024.

Source: Scottish Health Survey

England

In 2024, 89% of adults (aged 16+) scored low risk on the Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test (AUDIT).

• 11% of adults were drinking at increasing risk, higher risk, or possible dependence levels.

• 15% of men drank at increasing risk, higher risk, or possible dependence levels compared to 7% of women.

• Adults aged 16 to 24 were the most likely to drink at increasing risk, higher risk, or possible dependence (17%), whereas adults aged 65 and over were the least likely (6%). 

Source: Health Survey for England

Scotland

In 2023, 82% of adults (aged 18+) scored low risk on the Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test (AUDIT).

• 18% of adults were drinking at increasing risk, higher risk, or possible dependence levels.

• 24% of men drank at increasing risk, higher risk, or possible dependence levels compared to 13% of women.

• Adults aged 16 to 24 were the most likely to drink at increasing risk, higher risk, or possible dependence levels while adults aged 75+ were the least likely (31% vs 5%).

Note: There are no updated AUDIT statistics for 2024 as these data are collected in the Scottish Health Survey every other year. 

Source: Scottish Health Survey

In 2023/24, the average spend on alcohol per person per week was £6.21.

• On average, each person spent £3.63 on alcohol for the household each week compared to £2.58 for consumption outside the home.

Source: Family Food: CR - expenditure

In 2023/24, the average spend on alcohol per person per week was £5.36.

• On average, each person spent £2.87 on alcohol for the household each week compared to £2.49 for consumption outside the home.

Source: Family Food: CR - expenditure

In 2023/24, the average spend on alcohol per person per week was £6.91.

• On average, each person spent £4.21 on alcohol for the household each week compared to £2.70 for consumption outside the home.

Source: Family Food: CR - expenditure

In 2023/24, the average spend on alcohol per person per week was £6.64.

• On average, each person spent £3.99 on alcohol for the household each week compared to £2.65 for consumption outside the home.

Source: Family Food: CR - expenditure

In 2023/24, the average spend on alcohol per person per week was £6.22.

• On average, each person spent £3.64 on alcohol for the household each week compared to £2.58 for consumption outside the home.

Source: Family Food: UK - expenditure

In 2023/24, an average of 293ml of beer/lager was purchased for the home while 144ml of beer/lager was purchased for outside the home per person each week.

• 188ml of wine was purchased for the home while 20ml was purchased for outside the home per person each week.

• 72ml of cider was purchased for the home while 16ml was purchased for outside the home per person each week.

• 41ml of spirits was purchased for the home while 15ml was purchased for outside the home per person each week.

Source: Family Food: Countries and Regions

In 2023/24, an average of 241ml of beer/lager was purchased for the home while 122ml of beer/lager was purchased for outside the home per person each week.

• 147ml of wine was purchased for the home while 17ml (excluding fortified wine) was purchased for outside the home per person each week.

• 54ml of cider was purchased for the home while 34ml was purchased for outside the home per person each week.

• 51ml of spirits was purchased for the home while 33ml was purchased for outside the home per person each week.

Source: Family Food: Countries and Regions

In 2023/24, an average of 295ml of beer/lager was purchased for the home while 146ml of beer/lager was purchased for outside the home per person each week.

• 196ml of wine was purchased for the home while 17ml (excluding fortified wine) was purchased for outside the home per person each week.

• 48ml of cider was purchased for the home while 3ml (excluding half pint or bottles) was purchased for outside the home per person each week.

• 47ml of spirits was purchased for the home while 20ml was purchased for outside the home per person each week.

Source: Family Food: Countries and Regions

In 2023/24, an average of 316ml of beer/lager was purchased for the home while 127ml of beer/lager was purchased for outside the home per person each week.

• 224ml of wine was purchased for the home while 25ml was purchased for outside the home per person each week.

• 46ml of cider was purchased for the home while 7ml was purchased for outside the home per person each week.

• 51ml of spirits was purchased for the home while 16ml was purchased for outside the home per person each week.

Source: Family Food: Countries and Regions

In 2023/24, an average of 291ml of beer/lager was purchased for the home while 142ml of beer/lager was purchased for outside the home per person each week.

• 188ml of wine was purchased for the home while 39ml was purchased for outside the home per person each week.

• 68ml of cider was purchased for the home while 16ml was purchased for outside the home per person each week.

• 43ml of spirits was purchased for the home while 16ml was purchased for outside the home per person each week.

Source: Family Food: UK

Between 2019 and 2023, alcohol accounted for 8% of total energy intake among drinkers aged 19 to 64. 

• Alcohol accounts for 9% of male drinker's (aged 19 to 64) and 7% of female drinker's (aged 19 to 64) total energy intake.

• Adult drinkers aged 19 to 64 consumed 20 grams of alcohol each day, on average.

• On average, male drinkers aged 19 to 64 consumed 25 grams of alcohol per day and female drinkers aged 19 to 64 consumed 16 grams. 

Source: National Diet and Nutrition Survey (Table 5.13)