Sent: 10 December 2001 12:23

Subject: young women and alcohol consumption

Do you have any comments on the Chief Medical Officer's report on how young women in particular are drinking and more and that cihhrosis of the liver is increasing amongst the young?

Dear Madelaine,

Thanks for your call and here are a few comments - I am also adding articles from our recent feature on the liver which draws on research that shows that just 10% of alcoholics ( for heavy drinkers it is a much lower figure) develop cirrhosis, and that obesity is thought to be an equally important factor now. This does not make heavy drinking acceptable of course, but puts the deaths from alcoholic liver disease in perspective ( .6 of a death per 10,000 population - compare this with deaths from heart disease 25 deaths per 10,000 in the UK).

Women are drinking more (the average is 10 units a week - expected to rise to 11.8 units by 2004, so well within the govt.guidelines of 14-21 units a week) - but affluent professional young women are highlighted and this could be put down to a number of factors: A report by Datamonitor shows that bars and pubs are far more women friendly and hence women feel far more comfortable about drinking without men in public than ever before.Professional young women are more independent, wealthier, marry later and want to unwind after a busy day in the office - for most this is a pleasurable and sociable past time, but some are drinking too heavily, and probably drinking on an empty stomach too after a busy day in the office - not a healhy combination.

Finally it is worth noting that more people are not drinking at all in the UK than ever before - 18% of the population in fact in comparison with 12% in 1980 - 12% of 18-24 year olds do not drink (up from 7% in 1980) and 14% of 25-34 year olds do not drink.Overall consumption per capita has changed little between 1980 and 2000 ( up 2.5%), but people are drinking less beer and more wine.

hope this helps - best wishes,

Helena Conibear