“Scots More Likely to Overindulge in Alcohol over Christmas”
Scots are more likely to binge drink on Christmas Day than those elsewhere in the UK, according to new research from Drinkaware.
The survey revealed that while 25% of Scots admit to drinking more than usual on Christmas Day, there is also a growing movement towards healthier habits, with 67% planning to reduce their alcohol consumption as part of their New Year’s resolutions.
Karen Tyrell, CEO of Drinkaware, highlighted the pressures surrounding alcohol consumption during the festive season.
“The festive period is a time where people are more likely to be socialising than other periods of the year, so with that comes the opportunity to socialise and from a cultural point of view, that socialising might often involve alcohol as well,” she said.
“But to reduce harm, think ahead, plan alcohol-free days, and maybe swap to a zero-alcohol product to keep your risks lower.
Binge drinking puts immense strain on your body, and can increase the risk of accidents, alcohol poisoning, and potentially ruin what should be an enjoyable festive season.
“In the short-term you might find that you have disturbed night’s sleep, you might have some mental health issues, so you might be a bit more anxious or uncomfortable the next day.
“You might have some digestive issues, a headache, the normal hangover symptoms, but you might also not do some of the things you might have promised friends and family that you were going to do because of how you’re feeling and letting people down is a side effect of not drinking.”
Nicola Merrin, from Alcohol Focus Scotland, echoed these concerns, attributing the rise in festive drinking to Scotland’s cultural relationship with alcohol.
“The festive period in particular can be quite difficult too for people who may be experiencing grief, loneliness or isolation or even just the stress of having to spend more time in close proximity to family, and people may use alcohol to cope with those stresses,” she said.
“We do have a drinking culture, one that people have been well aware of over the years and have even joked about.
“Many of us will remember the Chewin’ The Fat sketch of “have a drink” and I think that just serves to illustrate how much alcohol is woven into our lives and the perception that it’s necessary to have a good time.”Merrin also pointed to the significant influence of alcohol marketing during the festive period.
“Adverts don’t really show the negative elements or risks of alcohol consumption,” she said.
“They always show people having a great time and suggest that it’s needed in your life, that it’s the norm, everybody does it, which we know isn’t actually true.”
“And, of course, there’s an explosion of alcohol adverts in the run-up to Christmas and New Year that’s absolutely impossible to avoid.”
Affordability and accessibility of alcohol are additional drivers of overindulgence, Merrin noted.
“There’s lots of alcohol promotions as well, in the shops and online —everybody loves a bargain, so that does drive up how much we buy.
“The more we buy, the more we consume. If it’s sitting in the house, we tend to consume it.”
Whilst individual decisions can make a difference, systemic change is also important to reduce harm.
“Minimum unit pricing is a key policy, and Scotland has been really bold in implementing that. It has had a really positive impact on how much harm we’re experiencing as a society.
“It’s reduced the number of people dying from alcohol by around 150 every year compared to if we didn’t have the policy,” she explained.
However, Merrin stressed that more must be done to address the deeper drivers of overconsumption.
“Restricting alcohol marketing is crucial. We know that for young people, exposure to marketing means they’ll be more likely to drink at an earlier age, more likely to drink more alcohol, and that can lead to problematic patterns of drinking later in life.
“We don’t need to have alcohol companies sponsoring our sports and events or alcohol displays in shops that are visible to young people.”
Tyrell agreed, urging Scots to take small, manageable steps to cut back over the festive season.
“If you’re hosting, try offering a range of low- or no-alcohol drinks alongside traditional ones,” she suggested. “It’s a small change that can make a big difference.”
With 67% of Scots intending to cut back on alcohol in the New Year, both Tyrell and Merrin are hopeful that healthier drinking habits can take root.
However, it’s sustained efforts from policymakers, communities, and individuals that are needed to tackle Scotland’s complex relationship with alcohol.
“We’ve made progress, but the evidence is clear—we need to do more,” Merrin said.
“It’s not just about reducing how much we drink during the festive season. It’s about creating a culture where drinking less, or not at all, is an easier, more supported choice for everyone.”
