Alcohol in the United Kingdom is legal to buy, sell and consume. Consumption rates within the country are high among the average of OECD nations however average among European countries but consistently ranks highest on binge drinking culture. [1] [2] An estimated 29 million people in the United Kingdom drank alcohol in 2017. [3]
Evidence of historical consumption of alcohol in the United Kingdom stretches back to possibly 12,000 years ago of alcohol fermentation jugs being found. [4]
By the 8th century the consumption of alcoholic beverages had become a "staple part of the British diet among manual workers". [4]
During the Roman Empire, British pub culture, in tabernae, began, combining the northern European tradition of "extremes of heavy episodic drinking" of "feast drinking", which remained untouched from Roman pressure and social drinking within bars. [4] [5]
During the eighteenth century, alcohol was regarded as a safe substance; its regular consumption was believed to confer health benefits and was considered vital in the country's social milieu. According to Tim Murphy, although alcohol consumption in the nineteenth century did not increase, its consumption increasingly began to emerge as a societal problem and be perceived as an antecedent to social chaos and moral corruption. The onset of the Industrial Revolution is believed to have played a role in the transmutation of societal perception due to the threat drinking posed on the new economic structure reliant on the masses working in factories. Furthermore, excessive drinking was classified as a disease and became subject to medical research and treatments, whereas previously it had only elicited religious condemnation. [6]
Although the sale or consumption of commercial alcohol has never been prohibited by law in the United Kingdom, historically, various groups in the UK have campaigned for the prohibition of alcohol; including the Society of Friends (Quakers), The Methodist Church and other non-conformists, as well as temperance movements such as Band of Hope, temperance Chartist movements of the nineteenth century and the United Kingdom Alliance who advocated for a legal ban of alcohol. An attempt was also made during the First World War which was due to consumption of alcohol by the army. [7] Legislation passed which had a prohibitionist agenda was the Sale of Beer Act 1854 which restricted Sunday opening hours however this was repealed following widespread rioting in conjunction, another attempt was made in 1859 with a prototype prohibition bill but this was overwhelmingly defeated in the House of Commons. [8]
In the 1930s, the book ' The Pub and the People ' was produced by a group of observers who went to observe life in a normal British pub and to come back and report on the culture and activities in working class life. [9]
In 2004, alcohol consumption peaked at an all time high of 11.6 litres [10] which was around double than in 1954. [9] [11]
Consumption rates for alcohol in the United Kingdom are high along the general trend of OECD nations.
However the disparity between general consumers and people who consume alcohol more than the regular is stark, around 4.4% of drinkers in the entire UK drink around 1/3rd of all alcohol consumed in the country in 2018. [12]
Heavy binge drinking is well established in Britain and the country consistently ranks highest for binge drinking culture in health reports. [1] [2] [11]
The percentage of people binge drinking varies slightly from constituent country to country, In England in 2019 this was 15%, Wales; 14% and Scotland 18%. [13]
Binge drinking costs the UK economy approximately £20 billion a year; 17 million working days are estimated to be lost due to hangovers and drink-related illness each year. [14] The cost of binge drinking to employers is estimated to be £6.4 billion and the cost per year of alcohol harm is estimated to cost the National Health Service £2.7 billion. [15] Urgent action has been recommended to understand the binge drinking culture and its aetiology and pathogenesis and urgent action has been called for to educate people with regard to the dangers of binge drinking.
People who do not drink alcohol (teetotal) are a rising percentage of people in the UK, especially amongst younger generations, standing at 20% of the population. [12] This percentage varies through the constituent countries of the UK, in England in 2019, this percentage is 20%, Scotland; 17%, Wales; 20% and Northern Ireland; 19%. [13] In numerical terms, this equates to 10.4 million people. [12]
Deaths due to alcohol consumption have historically risen since the 1990s. In 2020, this has peaked in a 20-year high for England and Wales. [16]
The United Kingdom has historically been a beer consuming country [17] [18] however from the 1960's onwards wine has increased in prevalence of consumption. This increase in consumption has largely come from women, According to the Institute of Alcohol Studies, 7 out of 10 wine bottles bought in supermarkets are bought by women. [10]
Historically, beer has been the most popular choice of drink in Britain, but since the 1960s and more prominently the 1980s wine consumption has mostly taken up beer's previous market domination within the UK.
In 2018, beer consumption once again became the most consumed type of alcohol within the UK with 8.5 billion pints sold in the year while wine had a total of 7.4 billion 175ml glasses worth sold and cider selling 1.2 billion pints. [19]
Cider is also a popular drink within the United Kingdom with the country being the biggest producer of cider within Europe. The UK also is the world's biggest consumer of cider brands. In 2018, a total of 1.2 billion pints worth of cider was sold in the UK. Traditionally, the drink was made from apples, but is not uncommon for several other fruits to be used in cider production, including but not limited to; pears, kiwifruit, strawberries, raspberries, blueberries, pineapples and passion fruit. [19]
Wine within the United Kingdom has become a more popular choice of beverage within recent decades.
Production of wine with the United Kingdom compared with recent consumption is quite low but has increased since steadfast since the 1990s. In 2008, production of wine was around 1.34 million bottles which doubled to 3.17 million the following year in 2009. [20] In 2018, a record number had been reached of 15.6m bottles being produced in England and Wales. [21]
Wine had a total of 7.4 billion 175ml glasses worth sold in 2018. [19]
Spirits have historically since the nineteenth century, been roughly consumed at the same rate over time in the UK.
| British spirits charged for consumption in England and Wales (in thousands of gallons) [22] :163 | |
|---|---|
| Year | Consumption |
| 1684 | 527 |
| 1700 | 1,223 |
| 1710 | 2,201 |
| 1720 | 2,483 |
| 1730 | 3,778 |
| 1741 | 7,429 |
| 1743 | 8,203 (peak) |
| 1750 | 6,603 |
| 1760 | 1,819 |
| Consumption of spirits per head in the UK, 1800–1914 [22] :167 | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Year | Home | Imported | Total |
| 1800 - 04 | 0.49 | 0.31 | 0.8 |
| 1805 - 9 | 0.6 | 0.25 | 0.85 |
| 1810 - 14 | 0.61 | 0.23 | 0.84 |
| 1815 - 19 | 0.52 | 0.17 | 0.69 |
| 1820 - 24 | 0.51 | 0.17 | 0.68 |
| 1825 - 29 | 0.9 | 0.2 | 1.10 |
| 1830 - 34 | 0.91 | 0.2 | 1.17 |
| 1835 - 39 | 0.99 | 0.18 | 0.87 |
| 1840 - 44 | 0.74 | 0.13 | 0.96 |
| 1845 - 49 | 0.81 | 0.15 | 1.08 |
| 1850 - 54 | 0.9 | 0.18 | 0.99 |
| 1855 - 59 | 0.82 | 0.17 | 0.99 |
| 1860 - 64 | 0.68 | 0.19 | 0.87 |
| 1865 - 69 | 0.71 | 0.26 | 0.97 |
| 1870 - 74 | 0.84 | 0.30 | 1.14 |
| 1875 - 79 | 0.89 | 0.32 | 1.21 |
| 1880 - 84 | 0.81 | 0.24 | 1.05 |
| 1885 - 89 | 0.72 | 0.22 | 0.94 |
| 1890 - 94 | 0.79 | 0.21 | 1 |
| 1895 - 99 | 0.82 | 0.21 | 1.03 |
| 1900 - 04 | 0.84 | 0.2 | 1.04 |
| 1905 - 9 | 0.71 | 0.15 | 0.86 |
| 1910 - 14 | 0.55 | 0.12 | 0.67 |
| Consumption of spirits in the UK, 1955–95 per person in pints [22] :176 | |
|---|---|
| Year | Consumption |
| 1955 - 59 | 2.7 |
| 1960 - 64 | 3.3 |
| 1965 - 69 | 3.7 |
| 1970 - 74 | 4.7 |
| 1975 - 79 | 6.4 |
| 1980 - 84 | 6.3 |
| 1985 - 89 | 6.6 |
| 1990 - 95 | 5.9 |
In 2017, drinkers were roughly spending £1,500 on mostly premium spirits. [23]
Popular brands of alcohol in the United Kingdom include;
| Brands | Q2 2022 | |
|---|---|---|
| YouGov polling [24] | ||
| Fame [fn 1] | Popularity [fn 2] | |
| Guinness | 97% | 56% |
| Stella Artois | 96% | 51% |
Kopparberg  | 75% | 49% |
| Magners | 85% | 47% |
| San Miguel | 88% | 47% |
| Bulmers | 86% | 45% |
Peroni  | 78% | 45% |
| Kronenbourg 1664 | 88% | 45% |
Corona  | 91% | 43% |
Heineken  | 96% | 43% |
| Carlsberg | 94% | 43% |
| Strongbow | 89% | 43% |
| Thatchers Gold | 78% | 41% |
| Old Speckled Hen | 74% | 40% |
| Foster's | 90% | 39% |
| Carling | 93% | 38% |
| Beck's | 87% | 38% |
| Sol | 75% | 38% |
| Strongbow (Dark Fruits) | 76% | 37% |
| Amstel | 82% | 37% |
| Brands | Q2 2022 | |
|---|---|---|
| YouGov polling [25] | ||
| Fame [fn 3] | Popularity [fn 4] | |
| Baileys | 94% | 55% |
| Malibu | 95% | 53% |
| Smirnoff | 94% | 51% |
| Bacardi | 95% | 51% |
| Jack Daniels | 95% | 47% |
| Pimm's | 91% | 46% |
| Martini | 92% | 46% |
| Beefeater | 94% | 45% |
| Blossom Hill | 81% | 45% |
| Dom Pérignon | 82% | 45% |
The price of alcohol has gradually become more affordable overtime on a per capita basis. [26] [11] This price varies from location in the UK, in London the average price of a pint is £5.20 while across the UK as a whole it is £3.50. [27]
Alcohol sales fell in 2020 due to the closure of pubs during the COVID-19 pandemic. [28]
The average spend on alcohol per person per week in 2020 was £7.43 across the entire UK, which was 10% higher than in 2017. [13]
Alcohol licensing laws have changed over time and vary between constituent countries of the UK but generally remain consistent.
If you’re under 18, it’s against the law:
- for someone to sell you alcohol
- to buy or try to buy alcohol
- for an adult to buy or try to buy alcohol for you
- to drink alcohol in licensed premises (such as a pub or restaurant)
However, if you’re 16 or 17 and accompanied by an adult, you can drink (but not buy) beer, wine or cider with a meal.
If you’re 16 or under, you may be able to go to a pub (or premises primarily used to sell alcohol) if you’re accompanied by an adult. However, this isn’t always the case. It can also depend on the specific conditions for that premises.
It’s illegal to give alcohol to children under 5.
Alcohol has had a societal impact on the UK culturally, economically and socially.
The UK alcohol industry makes up around 2.5% of the country's total GDP to national income which equates to a contribution of £46 billion a year, in employment, the industry is responsible for 770,000 jobs which is 2.5% of all employment in the country. [29]
An alcopop is any of certain mixed alcoholic beverages with relatively low alcohol content, including:
Beer is one of the oldest alcoholic drinks in the world, the most widely consumed, and the third most popular drink after water and tea. Beer is produced by the brewing and fermentation of starches from cereal grains—most commonly malted barley, although wheat, maize (corn), rice, and oats are also used. The fermentation of the starch sugars in the wort produces ethanol and carbonation in the beer. Most modern beer is brewed with hops, which add bitterness and other flavours and act as a natural preservative and stabilising agent. Other flavouring agents, such as gruit, herbs, or fruits, may be included or used instead of hops. In commercial brewing, natural carbonation is often replaced with forced carbonation.
A drink or beverage is a liquid intended for human consumption. In addition to their basic function of satisfying thirst, drinks play important roles in human culture. Common types of drinks include plain drinking water, milk, juice, smoothies and soft drinks. Traditionally warm beverages include coffee, tea, and hot chocolate. Caffeinated drinks that contain the stimulant caffeine have a long history.
Low-alcohol beer is beer with little or no alcohol content that aims to reproduce the taste of beer while eliminating or reducing the inebriating effect, carbohydrates, and calories of regular alcoholic brews. Low-alcohol beers can come in different beer styles such as lagers, stouts, and ales. Low-alcohol beer is also known as light beer, non-alcoholic beer, small beer, small ale, or near-beer.
Drinking culture is the set of traditions and social behaviors that surround the consumption of alcoholic beverages as a recreational drug and social lubricant. Although alcoholic beverages and social attitudes toward drinking vary around the world, nearly every civilization has independently discovered the processes of brewing beer, fermenting wine and distilling spirits.
A standard drink or unit of alcohol is a measure of alcohol consumption representing a fixed amount of pure alcohol. The notion is used in relation to recommendations about alcohol consumption and its relative risks to health. It helps to educate alcohol users. A hypothetical alcoholic beverage sized to one standard drink varies in volume depending on the alcohol concentration of the beverage, but it always contains the same amount of alcohol and therefore produces the same amount of drunkenness. Many government health guidelines specify low to high risk amounts in units of grams of pure alcohol per day, week, or single occasion. These government guidelines often illustrate these amounts as standard drinks of various beverages, with their serving sizes indicated. Although used for the same purpose, the definition of a standard drink varies from country to country.
Beer arrived in Australia at the beginning of British colonisation. In 2004 Australia was ranked fourth internationally in per capita beer consumption, at around 110 litres per year; although, the nation ranked considerably lower in a World Health Organization report of alcohol consumption per capita of 12.2 litres. Lager is by far the most popular type of beer consumed in Australia.
A liquor store is a retail business that predominantly sells prepackaged liquors, wine or beer, usually intended to be consumed off the store's premises. Depending on region and local idiom, they may also be called an off-licence, off-sale, bottle shop, bottle store or, colloquially, bottle-o, liquor store or other similar terms. A very limited number of jurisdictions have an alcohol monopoly. In US states that are alcoholic beverage control (ABC) states, the term ABC store may be used.
Purposeful production of alcoholic drinks is common and often reflects cultural and religious peculiarities as much as geographical and sociological conditions.
Alcoholic drinks in Sweden are as common as in most of the Western world. Sweden is historically part of the vodka belt, with high consumption of distilled drinks and binge drinking, but during the later half of the 20th century, habits are more harmonized with western Europe, with increasing popularity of wine and weekday drinking. Wine is now also grown and produced in several parts of Sweden and the southernmost region of Skåne is turning into a hub experiencing a strong growth in number of active vineyards.
An alcoholic beverage is a drink that contains ethanol, a type of alcohol and is produced by fermentation of grains, fruits, or other sources of sugar. The consumption of alcoholic drinks, often referred to as "drinking", plays an important social role in many cultures. Alcoholic drinks are typically divided into three classes—beers, wines, and spirits—and typically their alcohol content is between 3% and 50%.
Cider is an alcoholic beverage made from the fermented juice of apples. Cider is widely available in the United Kingdom and the Republic of Ireland. The UK has the world's highest per capita consumption, as well as the largest cider-producing companies. Ciders from the South West of England are generally higher in alcoholic content. Cider is also popular in many Commonwealth countries, such as India, South Africa, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand. As well as the UK and its former colonies, cider is popular in Portugal, France, Friuli, and northern Spain. Germany also has its own types of cider with Rhineland-Palatinate and Hesse producing a particularly tart version known as Apfelwein. In the U.S. and Canada, varieties of alcoholic cider are often called hard cider to distinguish it from non-alcoholic apple cider or "sweet cider", also made from apples. In Canada, cider cannot contain less than 2.5% or over 13% absolute alcohol by volume.
A schooner is a type of glass for serving drinks. In the United Kingdom it is the name for a large sherry glass. In Australia it is the name for a particular glass size, used for any type of beer.
Alcohol laws are laws relating to manufacture, use, being under the influence of and sale of alcohol or alcoholic beverages. Common alcoholic beverages include beer, wine, (hard) cider, and distilled spirits. Definition of alcoholic beverage varies internationally, e.g., the United States defines an alcoholic beverage as "any beverage in liquid form which contains not less than one-half of one percent of alcohol by volume". Alcohol laws can restrict those who can produce alcohol, those who can buy it, when one can buy it, labelling and advertising, the types of alcoholic beverage that can be sold, where one can consume it, what activities are prohibited while intoxicated, and where one can buy it. In some cases, laws have even prohibited the use and sale of alcohol entirely.
Binge drinking is the practice of consuming excessive amounts of alcohol in a short period of time. Due to the idiosyncrasies of the human body, the exact amount of alcohol that would constitute binge drinking differs among individuals. The definitions of binge drinking are also nuanced across cultures and population subgroups. For example, many studies use gender-specific measures of binge drinking. The epidemiology of binge drinking likewise differs across cultures and population subgroups.
Cider in the United Kingdom is widely available at pubs, off licences, and shops. It has been made in regions of the country where cider apples were grown since Roman times; in those regions it is intertwined with local culture, particularly in the West Country.
Alcohol in Indonesia refers to the alcohol industry, alcohol consumption and laws related to alcohol in the South East Asian country of Indonesia. Indonesia is a Muslim majority country, yet it is also a pluralist, democratic and secular nation. These social and demographic conditions led to Islamic parties and pressure groups pushing the government to restrict alcohol consumption and trade, while the government carefully considers the rights of non-Muslims and consenting adults to consume alcohol, and estimates the possible alcohol ban effects on Indonesian tourism and the economy.
Many students attending colleges, universities, and other higher education institutions consume alcoholic beverages. The laws and social culture around this practice vary by country and institution type, and within an institution, some students may drink heavily whereas others may not drink at all. In the United States, drinking tends to be particularly associated with fraternities.
