16 December 2008 - Adult drinking patterns survey in Northern Ireland 2008

The survey, conducted on behalf of the Department of Health, Social Services and Public Safety, examines the amount people drink, when, where and what they drink and who they drink with.

It also examines how drinking behaviours vary across different sections of the public, the proportion of people who binge drink, problem drinking, and perceptions of drinking.

Key Findings

The key findings relating to the Adult Drinking Patterns Survey in Northern Ireland 2008 are:

• More than seven in ten (72%) adults drink alcohol.
• A larger proportion of males (74%) than females (70%) drink alcohol.
• Most drinking occurs over the weekend and peaks on Saturdays.
• The most common drink consumed is wine (50%), closely followed by beer (48%).
• Most of those who drank in the week prior to the survey had consumed alcohol at home (64%), and nearly one quarter (24%) had consumed alcohol in a pub.
• More than four in five (81%) respondents had exceeded the recommended daily limits during the week prior to the survey.
• Approximately four in five males (79%) and females (83%) exceed their recommended daily limits during the week prior to the survey.
• Nearly one quarter (24%) of respondents drank above the weekly sensible levels.
• Over one quarter (26%) of male respondents and over one fifth (22%) of female respondents drank above the weekly sensible levels in the week prior to the survey.
• Nearly a third (32%) of those who drank in the week before the survey had engaged in at least one binge drinking session.
• Males (35%) were more likely than females (29%) to binge drink.
• Over half (54%) of drinkers aged 18-29 years engaged in at least one binge drinking session in the week prior to the survey, and they are more likely to binge drink than respondents in the older groups.
• One in 10 respondents (10%) of those who drank in the week prior to the survey are highly likely to have a problem with alcohol, according to the CAGE analysis.
• Over half (56%) of those who consumed alcohol in the week prior to the survey considered themselves to be light drinkers, two in five (40%) considered themselves to be moderate drinkers and 4% considered themselves to be heavy drinkers.

Comparisons between 2005 and 2008 are:

• The proportion of adults who drank above the weekly sensible levels in the week prior to the survey significantly decreased from 29% in 2005 to 24% in 2008.
• The proportion of adults who engaged in at least one binge drinking session in the week prior to the survey significantly decreased from 38% in 2005 to 32% in 2008.

Notes to Editors:

1. The Public Health Information and Research Branch within Department of Health, Social Services and Public Safety commissioned the Central Survey Unit in the Department of Finance and Personnel to conduct this survey.

2. The survey was conducted between 7 April 2008 and 30 June 2008. During this time 1,753 computer-assisted face-to-face interviews were conducted.

3. The current recommended daily drinking limits state that drinking four or more units of alcohol a day for males and three or more units a day for females increases alcohol-related health risks.

4. Levels of alcohol consumption can be banded into weekly guidelines for sensible drinking. On a weekly basis, males drinking 21 units or less are considered to be within sensible limits, those drinking between 22 and 50 are considered to be above sensible but below dangerous levels and those drinking 51 units and above are drinking at dangerous levels. The sensible limit for females is 14 units per week, the above sensible and below dangerous level is between 15 and 35 units and dangerous levels are 36 units and above.

5. For the purposes of this study a binge is defined as consuming 10 or more units of alcohol in one session for males and seven or more units of alcohol for females. These are the same levels as were used in the 2005 and 1999 surveys.

6. This research applied the CAGE question analysis tool, which asks respondents four questions about their drinking. If two or more questions are answered positively then it is highly likely that they have a problem with alcohol.

7. When comparing the findings from the 2005 and 2008 survey, only those changes that are statistically significant at the 5% level are reported.

8. Additional Information

Further information is available from:

The survey is availabe to view on the DHSSPS Website

9. Media queries to DHSSPS Press Office on 02890 520074, or out of office hours contact the Duty Press Officer via pager number 076 9971 5440 and your call will be returned.