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Introduction

This Statistics Publication Notice contains revised estimates on alcohol consumption from the 2003 Scottish Health Survey following the development of new alcohol unit conversion factors.

This publication covers the headline results. A more detailed publication on 24 June 2008 will update all of the analyses included in the 2003 Scottish Health Survey alcohol chapter for adults (Volume 2: Chapter 1) and one table from the children's report (Volume 3: Chapter 1) published in November 2005.

Figure 1 Proportion exceeding government guidelines on weekly alcohol consumption (21 units for men / 14 units for women), by gender, previous and updated methods, 2003

Background

The average strength by volume of some alcohol products has been increasing in recent years. As a result there has been some concern that the methods used by surveys to convert the amounts of alcohol respondents report having consumed into units have been underreporting consumption levels ¹.

In December 2007, the Office for National Statistics published an updated method of converting drink volumes to alcohol units ² and this method is now being used to estimate alcohol consumption in GB and English surveys. To preserve comparability with GB and English estimates, and to better reflect the current position relating to alcohol consumption, we have applied this new method to the Scottish Health Survey data for 2003.

Key Results (based on the revised estimates)

Weekly Consumption (Table 1.1)

• 34% of men usually consume more than the recommended limit of 21 units per week;

• 23% of women usually consume more than the recommended limit of 14 units per week;
• On average, men drink 20.3 units of alcohol per week. This consists mainly of normal strength beer (9 units), spirits (4 units) and wine (5 units);
• On average, women drink 9.1 units of alcohol per week. This consists mainly of spirits (2 units) and wine (5 units).

Consumption on Heaviest Drinking Day in Past Week (Table 1.8)

• 63% of men who drank in the previous week drank more than the daily benchmark of 4 units on their heaviest drinking day;
• 64% of women who drank in the previous week drank more than the daily benchmark of 3 units on their heaviest drinking day;
• Heavy drinking (drinking twice the recommended maximum daily amount in one sitting) is generally used as a proxy for 'binge' drinking. 40% of men and 33% of women who drank in the previous week drank more than 8 or 6 units respectively on their heaviest drinking day.

Impact of Revisions

Table A lists the previous and revised unit conversion factors for each type of drink and volume. For more detail on the reasons behind these changes, please refer to the ONS report http://www.statistics.gov.uk/downloads/theme_compendia/drinkingmethodologyfinal.pdf

Weekly Consumption (Table 1.1A)

By applying the revised unit conversion factors:

• The percentage of men drinking more than 21 units has increased from 27% to 34%;
• The percentage of women drinking more than 14 units has increased from 14% to 23%;
• Men's mean weekly consumption has increased from 17.2 units to 20.3 units;
• Women's mean weekly consumption has increased from 6.5 units to 9.1 units;
• The effect of the revisions is greater for women than men, mainly due to the fact that women are more likely to be wine drinkers and the change in unit conversion factors has had a greater impact on wine than on other types of drink.

Consumption on Heaviest Drinking Day in Past Week (Table 1.8A)

Two changes to the way these estimates have been calculated need to be highlighted. The methods for calculating daily unit consumption have been updated using the same conversion factors used for the weekly drinking estimates. However, the thresholds for reporting daily unit consumption have also changed. The previously published figures used thresholds of 3 or more units for women and 4 or more units for men to report daily drinking above recommended maximum daily amount ³. Heavy drinking, used as a proxy for 'binge' drinking was defined as consuming 6 or more units for women and 8 or more units for men. These thresholds have now been adjusted to use the following thresholds to enable comparability with the Health Survey for England and the General Household Survey:

• Drinking above 'safe' daily drinking limits - women: more than 3 units; men: more than 4 units;

• 'binge' drinking - women: more than 6 units; men: more than 8 units.

The impact of changing the thresholds has generally been to reduce consumption levels whilst the use of the updated conversion factors has increased consumption levels. In some cases, the combined effect of the two changes has led to a negligible change from the previously published estimate.

• The percentage of men drinking more than 4 units increased from 54% (using the old conversion factors) to 63%. The previously published figure (based on the old thresholds of 4 or more and using old conversion factors) was 63%;
• The percentage of women drinking more than 3 units increased from 44% (using the old conversion factors) to 64%. The previously published figure (based on the old thresholds of 3 or more and using old conversion factors) was 57%;
• The percentage of men drinking more than 8 units increased from 30% (using the old conversion factors) to 40%. The previously published figure (based on the old thresholds of 8 or more and using old conversion factors) was 37%;
• The percentage of women drinking more than 6 units increased from 19% (using the old thresholds) to 33%. The previously published figure (based on the old thresholds of 6 or more and using old conversion factors) was 28%.

List of Tables

Note: table numbers are in line with those used in the 2003 Scottish Health Survey Report (Vol 2: Chapter 1) to ease comparison with previously published figures.

A Original and revised factors for converting alcohol volumes to units

1.1 Estimated usual weekly alcohol consumption level, by age and sex*

1.1A Comparison of original and revised estimates of usual weekly alcohol consumption level, by age and sex*

1.8 Estimated alcohol consumption level on heaviest drinking day in past week, by age and sex ^†

1.8A Comparison of original and revised estimates of alcohol consumption level on heaviest drinking day in past week, by age and sex ^†

* These tables have been updated with new unit calculations

^† These tables have been updated with new unit calculations and use revised thresholds for reporting consumption levels

Table A Original and revised factors for converting alcohol volume to units

Table 1.1 Estimated usual weekly alcohol consumption level, by age and sex
Aged 16 and over
2003

Table 1.1A Comparison of original and revised estimates of usual weekly alcohol consumption level, by age and sex
Aged 16 and over
2003

Table 1.8 Estimated alcohol consumption level on heaviest drinking day in past week, by age and sex
Aged 16 and over who drank alcohol in past seven days
2003

Table 1.8A Comparison of original and revised estimates of alcohol consumption level on heaviest drinking day in past week, by age and sex
Aged 16 and over who drank alcohol in past seven days
2003

Continued…

*Data presented in the 'original' column is based on the first threshold presented ( e.g. 8 or more for men, 6 or more for women), the 'Revised Thresholds' and'Revised Thresholds and Updated Unit Conversion' columns use the second threshold ( e.g. over 8 for men, over 6 for women).

Table 1.8A - Continued
Aged 16 and over who drank alcohol in past seven days
2003

SCOTTISH GOVERNMENT STATISTICIAN GROUP

OUR AIM

To provide relevant and reliable information, analysis and advice that meet the needs of government, business and the people of Scotland.

OBJECTIVES

1. To produce statistics and analysis relevant to user needs by

• Developing our understanding of customer requirements to ensure statistics are kept relevant and analysis is well targeted;
• Developing the range of statistics and analysis we produce;
• Where practicable improving timeliness;
• Providing more statistics disaggregated by age, gender and ethnicity;
• Developing more data for small areas through the Neighbourhood Statistics project;
• Contributing to production of comparable statistics across the UK and internationally.

2. To ensure effective use of our statistics by

• Contributing more directly to policy processes inside and where possible outside government;
• Improving access to and presentation of data and analysis;
• Improving the advice provided on statistics.

3. To work effectively with users and providers by

• Maintaining arrangements to consult and involve users and providers;
• Involving users and providers in planning developments in outputs and processes;
• Minimising the burden on data providers through dropping or streamlining collections as appropriate, to ensure the benefits of the information justify the costs of collection.

4. To develop the quality of statistics by

• Assuring and improving quality as an integral part of data collection and analysis and through regular reviews in line with National Statistics quality strategy;
• Developing statistical methods, systems and classifications;
• Working with the rest of the Government Statistical Service to develop joint approaches/solutions where appropriate.

5. To assure the integrity of statistics by

• Maintaining and promoting integrity through implementation of the National Statistics Code of Practice and related protocols;
• Safeguarding the confidentiality of data subjects.

6. To ensure the efficient and effective delivery of statistics products and services by

• Making best use of all sources including administrative sources;
• Working with other analysts to maximise the contribution of our own and other analysts' work;
• Ensuring value for money;
• Making best use of Information and Communications Technology;
• Ensuring effective communication within the Statistician Group.

7. To develop our workforce and competences

• Ensuring recruitment of staff with the necessary skills and potential;
• Ensuring development of expertise amongst existing staff;
• Promoting and upholding the standards of the statistics profession.

This is an Official Statistics publication

"This is an Official Statistics publication. It has been produced to high professional standards set out in the National Statistics Code of Practice Protocol - see www.statistics.gov.uk/about_ns/cop/default.asp

These statistics undergo regular quality assurance reviews to ensure that they meet customer needs. They are produced free from any political interference."

Details of pre-release access will be provided in the Scottish Government Statistics Website under 'Forthcoming Releases'

Correspondence and enquiries

Enquiries on Revised Alcohol Consumption Estimates from the 2003 Scottish Health Survey should be addressed to:

Emma Stevens

Telephone: 0131 244 2589;
Fax: 0131 244 2371
e-mail: scottishhealthsurvey@scotland.gsi.gov.uk

General enquiries on Scottish Government statistics can be addressed to:

Ryan Stewart

Telephone: (0131) 244 0442;
Fax: (0131) 244 2223
e-mail: statistics.enquiries@scotland.gsi.gov.uk

Advice on specific areas of Scottish Government statistical work can be obtained from staff at the telephone numbers given below:

Scottish Government Statistics contacts

Other contacts for Scottish statistics

For general enquiries about National Statistics in the United Kingdom Government contact the National Statistics Public Enquiry Service on

020 7533 5888
minicom: 01633 812399
Email: info@statistics.gov.uk
Fax: 01633 652747
Letters:

You can also find National Statistics on the internet - go to www.statistics.gov.uk

If you would like to be consulted about new or existing statistical collections or receive notification of forthcoming statistical publications, please register your interest on the Scottish Government ScotStat website at www.scotland.gov.uk/Topics/Statistics/scotstat

Current contact points, e-mail addresses and the publications listed below as well as a range of other statistical publications can be found on the Scottish Government Web site at www.scotland.gov.uk/stats

Further information on the General Register Office for Scotland is available on the website www.gro-scotland.gov.uk

Most recent Statistical Publications relating to the Health theme

Additional copies of these publications may be purchased from Scottish Government Publication Sales, Blackwell's Bookshop, 53 South Bridge, Edinburgh, EH1 1YS, Telephone: 0131 622 8283 or 0131 622 8258, Fax: 0131 557 8149. Cheques should be made payable to 'Blackwell's Bookshop'.

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If you are not satisfied with our service, please write to the Chief Statistician, Mr Rob Wishart, 3R.01, St Andrews House, Edinburgh, EH1 3DG, Telephone: (0131) 244 0302, e-mail rob.wishart@scotland.gsi.gov.uk . We also welcome any comments or suggestions that would help us to improve our standards of service.

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Brief extracts from the Crown Copyright material in this publication may be reproduced provided the source is fully acknowledged.

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