Help shape future drinking support- take our 10-minute survey for a chance to win a £100 voucher. Try a few short activities and tell us what works best for you.
In this report we explore moderation and the moments that matter. This includes drinking occasion, unit consumption, drinking frequency and riskier drinking behaviours.
The 2026 Drinkaware Monitor: Moderation and the Moments that Matter examines current drinking behaviours and moderation trends across the UK.
The research explores levels of alcohol consumption, including binge drinking and average unit intake per drinking day, as well as behaviours linked to moderation, such as the use of low- and no-alcohol products and efforts to cut back on drinking.
It also analyses differences across age groups and investigates the occasions and situations associated with drinking. By identifying the moments most likely to lead to higher alcohol consumption, the report provides a deeper understanding of riskier drinking behaviours and the factors that influence them.
Every year we commission the only nationally representative survey of UK adults’ drinking trends. The insights help us understand how people drink today, how behaviours are changing, and how experiences differ across generations and regions.
Watch the video to find out more.
Note: Monitor reports from 2018 onwards are not comparable to previous years due to changes in methodology.
91% of drinkers say they use at least one moderation technique to reduce their alcohol consumption, up from 87% in 2025.
39% of drinkers have tried to cut down, compared to 36% in 2025.
29% have been successful, suggesting a need for more effective support and resources.
56% of drinkers consume more than they usually would when on an evening or night out with friends, and 51% say they drink more than usual while on holiday.
13% of UK drinkers are binge drinking weekly or more, compared to 11% in 2025 and 2024.
More than 8 units of alcohol in a single session for males, or more than 6 units in a single session for females is the technical definition of binge drinking.
17% of drinkers consume 7+ units on a typical drinking day, compared to 14% in 2025 and 2024.
21% of 55-64 year olds drink at least 4 times a week, compared to 16% in 2025.
People may be trying to moderate more overall but still drink more on holidays, in good weather and when out with friends.
For Drinkaware, this reinforces the importance of prevention and helping people find their balance with alcohol across a range of settings and occasions. We will continue to provide practical, evidence-led tools and advice, while working with partners to make moderation more visible, normal and achievable.
Everything we do at Drinkaware is driven by evidence. Explore our research, evaluation reports, data and insights to better understand alcohol behaviours, attitudes and trends across the UK. Browse related research below or search our dedicated research section.
Interested researchers who wish to conduct independent analysis of our Monitor data are welcome to contact the research team at research@drinkaware.co.uk.
See below for a detailed breakdown of the research method.
Drinkaware commissioned YouGov to undertake the research on our behalf. YouGov interviewed a UK wide sample of 7,210 adults aged 18 to 85, including 4,628 in England, 1,075 in Wales, 1,001 in Scotland and 506 in Northern Ireland
The sample was drawn from the YouGov research panel, with responses collected between 26 May and 22 June 2026. The survey was carried out online.
Using data from the Office for National Statistics, the results were weighted to be representative of the UK adult population according to age, gender, social grade and region. The sampling and weighting process is exactly consistent with that used in previous (2017, 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023, 2024, 2025) Drinkaware Monitors.
Note: when compared to population-level sales data, self-reported surveys typically underestimate population alcohol consumption by between 30% and 60%.
For further information on methodology, and to view the questionnaire, please refer to the technical report.
