United Kingdom and the Drinking Culture

We’ve all seen it. On social media, in books, on TV, or in the movies – drinking in the United Kingdom has its reputation. Old lads having a pint while fighting over the most recent football match, tourists visiting the “oldest pub in England,” or 16-year-olds enjoying a glass of wine while at a public restaurant may come to mind when thinking about drinking culture in the UK. What parts of these archetypes played in the media are true and which are an exaggeration? Keep reading to find out more about the drinking culture in the United Kingdom.

History of Drinking Culture in the UK

The United Kingdom (UK) encompasses regions of England, Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland. Throughout the UK, the consumption of alcohol increased from the postwar era in the 1930s until the 1980s. Between the 1980s and 1995, the amount of alcohol consumption started to level out but was on the rise until the mid-2000s since its last peak. The shifts in drinking vary based on social attitudes, marketing by alcohol companies, and the region's legislation.

Nowadays, the average amount of alcohol consumed per adult in the UK is 9.7 liters of pure alcohol per year or 18 units per week. This translates to about three glasses of a strong beer or large serving of wine per week — or 156 servings of beer or wine per year! Let’s dive into who is doing most of this drinking and in what regions. 

Drinking Laws and Customs

Throughout the UK, people over the age of 18 are allowed to buy and drink alcohol. For 16- and 17-year-olds, it’s legal to have a beer, wine, or cider while having a sit-down meal if an adult is present and buys the drink for them. In public or licensed premises, people under the age of 18 are not permitted to drink alcohol. Let’s review when people are allowed to get alcohol throughout the UK: 

• In England and Wales, supermarkets can sell liquor 24 hours if they are a 24-hour store. The exception is on Sundays when liquor can’t be sold until 10 a.m. 
• In Scotland, alcohol is sold between 10 a.m. and 10 p.m. 
• Northern Ireland markets sell alcohol from 11:30 a.m. to 11 p.m. or from 11:30 a.m. to 11 p.m. on Sundays. 
• In England, Wales, and Northern Ireland, the pubs, bars, and clubs are typically opened from 11 a.m. (noon on Sundays) until 11 p.m. (10:30 p.m. on Sundays). 
• Scotland’s pubs stay open from 11 a.m. until midnight. 
• With a special license, establishments can extend the closing time to as late as 5 a.m.


Customs

We’ve established when alcohol can be served and the legal drinking age, but who does most of the drinking throughout the UK? About 80% of the UK population reports drinking alcohol and between 50-58% report drinking at least once per week. Heavy drinkers, or those who consume 8 or more drinks per week, are estimated to consume 30% of all the alcohol in the UK. Across all of the UK, 17–20% of adults reported they don’t drink alcohol. According to a study released in 2015, most nondrinkers in England fall in the age range of 16-24.

Pubs: The Heart of UK Drinking Culture

An integral part of UK culture around drinking is pubs. The term “pub” is short for public house, which has a deep history and heritage in communities within the UK. Pubs provide a public space for people to gather, socialize, or eat and drink while keeping culture alive and relevant.  

Pubs around the UK serve as social gathering spaces and community hubs. Local residents often meet, share news, relax, and build relationships with friends, family, or community members. It’s common for pubs to host group events such as trivia nights. Pubs foster a sense of community and belonging. 

Many pubs in the UK are dedicated to keeping cultural traditions alive. A cozy atmosphere with wooden features, fireplaces, and low ceilings set the stage for the cultural traditions upheld in pubs. Often, pubs contribute to the preservation of history through their association with historical events, famous figures, or historical architecture that can be up to centuries old. Pubs uphold history and culture through traditions such as pub quizzes, live music, and themed events. They tend to feature traditional regional music and dancing to highlight and keep aspects of culture alive. 

Throughout the UK, pubs are more than a place to grab a pint; they foster a sense of community, history, and tradition that encapsulates the unique cultural landscapes of the United Kingdom. 

What Is Everybody Drinking? 

While we often imagine Brits drinking pints at the pub, the real drinking culture in the UK is much more diverse. Today’s pubs serve a full menu of the UK’s most popular beverages: 

• Beer. Pubs throughout the UK are known for their beer. With a range of ales, lagers, and stouts available, it’s no wonder it’s the most popular beverage throughout the UK. Some of the most popular brands of beer are San Miguel, Guinness, Heineken, and Kopparberg, along with local craft beers.

• Ciders. People in the UK drink ciders more than anywhere else in the world. Ciders are made from fermented apples. They range from sweet to dry in flavor, and they can be still or sparkling. Popular ciders consumed throughout the UK include Strongbow, Old Mout, Thatchers, Aspall, and Kopparberg. 

• Wine. Wine is another popular alcoholic beverage of choice throughout the UK. In Britain, pinot grigio is the top choice. Those in Scotland tend to prefer sauvignon blanc,and Northern Ireland ranks chardonnay as their favorite. Prosecco is a popular sparkling wine variety in the UK.  

• Whisky. I think we’ve all heard of Scotch whisky or single-malt Scotch. This popular drink originated in Scotland of the UK and is a big part of UK drinking culture. Popular brands include Glenfiddich, Glenlivet, and Lagavulin. 

• Gin. In the UK, gin’s rise in popularity is keeping the distilleries busy. Of course, trends change over time, and there is a wide variety of individual differences not accounted for in this list. Despite the individual differences, people in the UK are known for their love of beer, wine, ciders, and whisky. 

Has Drinking Become a Problem? 

As we learned above, the heaviest drinkers in the UK, which account for 4.4% of the drinking population, consume about 30% of the total alcohol consumed. On top of this, about 10% of adults who drink alcohol report consuming alcohol at least five days per week. Between 13% to 18% of drinkers over the age of 16 report binge drinking, which is defined as having five or more drinks (men) or four or more drinks (women) within two hours. Although the relative rates of drinking decreased in the UK over the last decade, harmful drinking such as binge drinking and alcohol dependence/misuse still occurs. 

In England alone, there are an estimated 602,391 alcohol-dependent drinkers, but 82% of them are not seeking treatment for it. Alcohol-dependent drinkers crave alcohol, are unable to control their drinking habits, need more alcohol to create the same effect, or have withdrawal symptoms when they stop using alcohol. Alcohol dependence and binge drinking can lead to serious health risks such as heart attack, strokes, heart disease, liver disease, or increased risk of developing cancers. 

For people between the ages of 15-49, alcohol misuse is the biggest risk factor for death, illness, and disability in the UK. For all age groups, alcohol misuse is the fifth leading risk factor. Paired with the fact that alcohol is more affordable now than it was in 1987, alcohol continues to be an issue for those in the UK. Misuse of alcohol is dangerous for adults, but drinking under the age of 18 brings extra dangers to the front. 

Risks of Drink Under the Age of 18

Nearly 40% of young people between ages 11 and 15 in the UK have tried alcohol. By age 15, nearly 20% report drinking once a week, and 32% report drinking once a month. While the numbers are fewer than the adult population, the risks are higher. There are several reasons it is dangerous for those under 18 to drink: 

• It impairs judgment. Our frontal cortex doesn’t fully develop until our mid-20s. Without a fully functioning frontal lobe, we are not as good at making decisions or controlling our impulses. Alcohol negatively impacts our decision making and impulsivity. The adolescent brain is more vulnerable to the effects of alcohol, which can lead to increased injuries and death.

• It interferes with brain development. Drinking with an underdeveloped brain can alter further development and change the structure and function of the brain. These alterations can cause cognitive deficits such as learning or memory problems later in life. Drinking early in life can also increase the chances for a person developing alcohol use disorder later in life.  

• It causes early death. Alcohol is a risk factor for early death in individuals under 21. Deaths include car accidents, homicides, alcohol overdose, falls, burns, drowning, or suicides. 

Resources for Substance Abuse in the UK 

There are many resources available to those who want to cut back or quit alcohol use in the UK. 

• In case of emergencies, dial 999 or 112
• A UK-wide treatment agency, We Are With You, helps individuals and families with alcohol and drug misuse.  
• Adfam is another agency that helps people and their families go through alcohol treatment. 
• Reframe can help cut back or quit alcohol. 

Quitting or cutting back on alcohol is challenging to do alone. Using resources at our disposal can help us through the process. 

Key Takeaways 

Alcohol has a rich history throughout the UK and in the heart of this culture are pubs. While the number of people not drinking has increased in the recent 20 years, alcohol dependence and misuse are a problem in the UK. With looser drinking age laws compared to the US, the drinking age in the UK is 18, with some exceptions for those between the ages of 5 and 17 being allowed to drink in a private residence or those aged 16 or 17 having beer, wine, or cider when served with dinner. Drinking under the age of 18 can be more dangerous to a person with a developing brain and is not advised.