Alcohol: adults exceeding sensible limits

The Scottish Health Survey 2003 reported that:

• The proportion of men exceeding weekly limits was 33% in the 1998 survey and 29% in the 2003 survey compared with 15% of women in 1998 and 17% of women in 2003.
• 31% of young men and 23% of young women aged 16 to 24 years exceeded recommended weekly limits (compared with 43% and 24% respectively in 1998).
• Both men and women in managerial and professional occupations were more likely to exceed recommended weekly limits than men and women in routine and semi routine occupations.
• There was no clear relationship between exceeding weekly limits and deprivation.

The 2003 General Household Survey also reported that:  

• 44% of men in Scotland drank more than 4 units on at least one day in the previous week compared to 40% of men in England (chart 1).
• 26% of men in Scotland drank more than 8 units on at least one day in the previous week compared to 23% of men in England (chart 1).
• 27% of women in Scotland drank more than 3 units on at least one day in the previous week compared with 22% in England (chart 1).
• 10% of women in Scotland drank more than 6 units on at least one day in the previous week, similar to the proportion of 9% of women in England (chart 1).

Click on the chart(s) below to view a full-sized detailed version in a new window

Chart 1