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(Image source: Inquisitr)
BY KERRY LEARY
The British are drinking more than they think, according to a new study. 40 percent of alcohol
sales in the UK are not accounted for in personal assessments of how much Britons actually drink.
“When you go to the doctors and you fill in that thing. They ask how many units you
have, you go down, if you are honest you will get the stamp.”
So, if underreporting is factored into this equation, it could mean 80 percent of women
and three-quarters of men are drinking at dangerous levels in the UK. But why the huge
discrepancy? The BBC spoke with an alcohol and drinking expert who says people have unrealistic
expectations about what other people are doing and that does affect how they respond.
According to The Guardian, the study suggests half of men and women drink more than the
Department of Health’s definition for “binge drinkers.” That’s eight units in one session
for men and six for women.
The University College London study says the gap between what’s reported and what isn’t
has enormous potential implications for the public health in England. But it’s not just
a British thing. Across the pond, a similar study was released about the United States
last week.
It revealed 18 percent of men and 11 percent of women drink more than the recommended daily
minimum in the U.S.
So, how do researchers go about fixing this gap? Science 2.0 spoke with the lead researcher
in the UK study who says further research is needed to understand if some people under-report
consumption more than others:
“ … this could reveal groups who under-estimate their alcohol consumption substantially, illuminating
areas where targeted alcohol education initiatives should be developed."