A new study has shown that 46% of Britons admit to drinking at least once every seven days. They are followed by Ireland, where 45% of those surveyed drink once a week, and the Netherlands and Spain with 42%.

The study, conducted by the pharmaceutical company STADA, covered 27,000 people in 22 countries.

The main reason participants gave for drinking alcohol was to improve their mood, with 31% citing this as their main motive. At the same time, 23% said alcohol helped them relax or fall asleep, and 18% used it as a means of relieving stress.

The data also highlights that men are significantly more likely to drink every week than women—44% of men compared to 25% of women. They are twice as likely to engage in daily drinking (6% compared to 3%), according to Surrey Live.

Interestingly, almost a third of women (32%) admit they don't know why they drink, compared to 23% of men, the Mirror reported.

Peter Goldschmidt, CEO of STADA, notes that although many Europeans strive for preventive measures to protect their health and maintain healthy habits, there are limits to what they can do. He explained: “Stagnating satisfaction with the system, limited access to preventive and psychiatric healthcare, and a perceived lack of fairness are fueling frustration across the continent.”

“In their personal lives, many Europeans are torn between knowing what is best for them and being pulled in another direction by circumstances and their daily responsibilities,” Goldschmidt said.

The UK's National Health Service (NHS) advises consuming no more than 14 units of alcohol per week, spread over at least three days. This is equivalent to about six standard glasses of wine or six pints of beer with 4% alcohol content.

The health service highlights the many benefits of reducing alcohol intake, such as feeling less tired, achieving clearer skin, saving money, lowering blood pressure, reducing the risk of stroke and cancer, and lowering cholesterol levels. Improved mood, memory, and sleep, as well as weight control, are also cited as beneficial results of reducing alcohol consumption.

A significant proportion (49%) of the European population is aware of the potential to start living a healthier lifestyle. Among those wishing to improve, 39% say that reducing stress at work would help them change harmful habits, and 36% express a desire for a more peaceful home life to facilitate positive change.

The NHS specifies that consuming more than 14 units of alcohol per week for ten years or more can lead to serious health problems such as mouth cancer, throat cancer, breast cancer, stroke, heart and liver disease, brain damage, and damage to the nervous system. | BGNES