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| Version 1 | Version 2 |
|---|---|
| Men 'drink far more than women' | Men 'drink far more than women' |
| (30 minutes later) | |
| Men are drinking twice as much alcohol as women, figures for 2006 suggest. | Men are drinking twice as much alcohol as women, figures for 2006 suggest. |
| Data from the Office for National Statistics suggest men drink an average of 18.7 units a week, compared with 9.0 units for women. | Data from the Office for National Statistics suggest men drink an average of 18.7 units a week, compared with 9.0 units for women. |
| Some 21% of men, and 11% of women had drunk on at least five of the seven days before the survey was carried out. | Some 21% of men, and 11% of women had drunk on at least five of the seven days before the survey was carried out. |
| Alcohol consumption in 2006 was higher in England (13.7 units a week), than in Wales (13.5 units) and Scotland (11.6 units). | Alcohol consumption in 2006 was higher in England (13.7 units a week), than in Wales (13.5 units) and Scotland (11.6 units). |
| The figures also suggest that alcohol consumption is increasingly a problem among the middle classes. | The figures also suggest that alcohol consumption is increasingly a problem among the middle classes. |
| Men and women in "managerial and professional" households drank an average of 15.1 units a week. | Men and women in "managerial and professional" households drank an average of 15.1 units a week. |
| In households classified as "routine and manual" the average consumption was 11.6 units a week. | In households classified as "routine and manual" the average consumption was 11.6 units a week. |
| Among men in households with a gross weekly income of over £1,000, 83% had had a drink in the previous week, and 51% had drunk more than four units on at least one day. | Among men in households with a gross weekly income of over £1,000, 83% had had a drink in the previous week, and 51% had drunk more than four units on at least one day. |
| But among men in households with an income of £200 or less, only 61% had had a drink and only 32% had drunk more than four units on any one day. | |
| The same pattern was found in women. Among those in large employer/managerial households 19% had drunk heavily on at least one day in the previous week, compared with 11% from "routine" households. | |
| Possible decline | Possible decline |
| The figures - the first to use a new method of assessing intake - suggest that overall alcohol consumption may be in decline. | The figures - the first to use a new method of assessing intake - suggest that overall alcohol consumption may be in decline. |
| See table of new units | See table of new units |
| The researchers warn that it is not possible to make direct comparisons between data assessed under the old and new methods. | The researchers warn that it is not possible to make direct comparisons between data assessed under the old and new methods. |
| Methods for calculating alcohol consumption have been updated to reflect the trend towards larger measures and stronger alcoholic drinks, especially wine. | Methods for calculating alcohol consumption have been updated to reflect the trend towards larger measures and stronger alcoholic drinks, especially wine. |
| But sticking with the old method, which almost certainly underestimates true alcohol consumption, the proportion of men drinking more than the recommended top limit of 21 units a week on average fell from 29% in 2000 to 23% in 2006. | But sticking with the old method, which almost certainly underestimates true alcohol consumption, the proportion of men drinking more than the recommended top limit of 21 units a week on average fell from 29% in 2000 to 23% in 2006. |
| For women, the proportion drinking more than the recommended top limit of 14 units a week fell from 17% in 2000 to 12% in 2006. | For women, the proportion drinking more than the recommended top limit of 14 units a week fell from 17% in 2000 to 12% in 2006. |
| Frank Soodeen, of the charity Alcohol Concern, said new measures were needed to ensure people could keep tabs on what they were actually drinking. | |
| He said: "While we've had some progress this year when it comes to the issue of bottles now obliged to carry a unit count, we need to go further, with drinks menus in bars carrying the same sort of data. | |
| "Customers have a right to make decisions on the basis of accurate information." | |
| Smoking | Smoking |
| The figures also show the overall prevalence of cigarette smoking among the adult population fell to 22% cent in 2006 - its lowest recorded level. | The figures also show the overall prevalence of cigarette smoking among the adult population fell to 22% cent in 2006 - its lowest recorded level. |
| Male smokers smoked an average of 15 cigarettes a day in 2006, compared with an average of 13 for female smokers. | Male smokers smoked an average of 15 cigarettes a day in 2006, compared with an average of 13 for female smokers. |
| Just over two thirds (68%) of cigarette smokers said that they wanted to give up - but 59% said it would be difficult to go without smoking for a whole day. | Just over two thirds (68%) of cigarette smokers said that they wanted to give up - but 59% said it would be difficult to go without smoking for a whole day. |
| In 2006, 16% of smokers had their first cigarette within five minutes of waking up. | In 2006, 16% of smokers had their first cigarette within five minutes of waking up. |
New units for alcoholic drinksDrink Volume Strength Units Normal beer/lager/cider half pint 284ml 4% 1 large can/bottle 440ml 4.5% 2 Strong beer/lager/cider half pint 284ml 6.5% 2 large can/bottle 440ml 6.5% 3 Table wine small glass 125ml 12.5% 1.5 medium glass 175ml 12.5% 2 large glass 250ml 12.5% 3 bottle 750ml 12.5% 9 Spirits single shot 25ml 40% 1 bottle 750ml 40% 30 Alcopops bottle 275ml 5% 1.5 Office for National Statistics | New units for alcoholic drinksDrink Volume Strength Units Normal beer/lager/cider half pint 284ml 4% 1 large can/bottle 440ml 4.5% 2 Strong beer/lager/cider half pint 284ml 6.5% 2 large can/bottle 440ml 6.5% 3 Table wine small glass 125ml 12.5% 1.5 medium glass 175ml 12.5% 2 large glass 250ml 12.5% 3 bottle 750ml 12.5% 9 Spirits single shot 25ml 40% 1 bottle 750ml 40% 30 Alcopops bottle 275ml 5% 1.5 Office for National Statistics |
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