PATTERNS OF DRINKING IN WALES

As part of a larger survey of health-related behaviours, 8441 Welsh men and women aged 18-64 years provided information relating to their overall consumption of alcohol, frequency of binge drinking (defined as consumption of at least half the recommended weekly limits, less-than-or-equal-to 21 units for men, less-than-or-equal-to 14 units for women) per occasion, and changes in consumption over time. Key findings indicate 29% of men and 9% of women report drinking in excess of the recommended safe limits, whilst 28% and 8% respectively report binge drinking at least once weekly, Such drinking is not, however, confined to heavy drinkers; 14% of men and 5% of women who drink within the recommended safe limits also report binge drinking at least once weekly. These and other results are discussed in relation to future health promotion initiatives.