Why do we drink? To get drunk

Most 18-24 year olds just booze to get blitzed and struggle to work because they are too hungover.

Huge numbers of young Scots admit struggling at work because of hangovers, a survey reveals.

Nineteen per cent of all Scots say they have had difficulty at work the morning after the night before.

And that rises to 80 per cent among people aged 18 to 24.

While 18 per cent of all age groups in the UK said they sometimes drank with the sole intention of getting drunk, that rose to 59 per cent among 18 to 24-year-olds and 43 per cent aged 25 to 34.

Researchers also found 27 per cent of people in the UK say they drink too much.

In the 18 to 24 age group, 29 per cent say they have forgotten what they have done after drinking.

More than a third - 39 per cent - admit they felt embarrassed about their behaviour when drinking.

The statistics were revealed as another study showed Britons are in third place in the European binge-drinking league.

Only Finland and Ireland have more binge-drinkers.

And those two countries and Britain are the only ones in the EU where girls out-booze the boys.

The average adult Briton goes on a bender every 13 days, according to the report, the first-ever EU-wide study on drinking.

More than a quarter of 15 to 16-year-olds said they went on at least three booze sessions in the last month.

The report brands alcohol "public health enemy No3" - behind only tobacco and high blood pressure.

It found the social cost of alcohol abuse had become as high as that for smoking, with booze responsible for more than seven per cent of disability and premature death in the EU.

The authors of the study found up to nine million children across Europe live in families damaged by alcohol.

And they blamed 10,000 "innocent" deaths each year on drink-driving.

The social cost of alcohol is thought to be around £446 a year per European house-hold - the same as tobacco.

Srabani Sen, head of Alcohol Concern, said yesterday: "This report paints a stark picture of the true impact of alcohol misuse across the EU.

"Far too many lives are lost to alcohol misuse and yet the evidence suggests that many of these deaths could be prevented if governments, including our own, took a few simple steps."

The report was written by the UK-based Institute of Alcohol Studies and funded by the European Commission.

The UK survey was conducted by Developing Patient Partnerships, a health education charity.

Dr Mary Church, joint chairman of the British Medical Association's Scottish general practitioners committee, said she was concerned at the results.

She said: "Alcohol has always played a part in Scottish social life and although most drink sensibly, bingeing and drinking just to get drunk is becoming a real health hazard for some Scots.

"Alcohol accounts for one in 30 of all deaths in Scotland and the cost to the NHS is estimated to be as much as £1.13 billion each year.

"If people are equipped with the knowledge of what dangerous drinking levels are, coupled with really practical advice about how to cut down and stay in control, it will go a long way to ensure that people enjoy a drink without overdoing it."

SNP deputy health spokesman Stewart Maxwell said: "We must look now at starting a national debate looking at what action can be taken to address this serious and growing problem.

"We need to examine not only our laws but also the advertising, availability and affordability of alcohol."

DPP are launching an Alcohol and You campaign to offer people practical advice on enjoying alcohol without overdoing it.

39% embarrassed by their drunk behaviour

59% drink with sole intention to get drunk

The Daily Record