1.1

Statistics on alcohol in England in 2006

In England in 2006, around two fifths (37%) of men had drunk more than 4 units of alcohol on at
least one day in the previous week: just over one fifth of women (22%) had drunk more than 3 units
of alcohol on at least one day in the previous week.

In 2006, average weekly alcohol consumption in England was 17.0 units for men and 7.6 units for
women.

In 2006, a quarter (25%) of pupils in England aged 11-15 had drunk alcohol in the previous week;
the proportion doing so has fluctuated around this level since the mid 1990s.

In the United Kingdom, expenditure on alcohol as a proportion of total household expenditure has
fallen from 7.5% in 1980 to 5.7% in 2006.


Statistics on Smoking in England in 2006

In England in 2006, smoking prevalence for adults was 25 per cent (26 per cent of men and 23 per
cent of women). There was a decrease in smoking prevalence from 39 per cent in 1980 to 26 per cent
in 1994, rising to 28 per cent in 1998. Prevalence has been steadily falling since then.

In England in 2006, 9 per cent of children aged 11-15 reported that they were regular smokers.
Girls aged 11-15 are more likely than boys to be regular smokers; 10 per cent compared with 7 per
cent.

Support for smoking restrictions in public places was high; 91 per cent of adults favoured
restrictions in restaurants, 86 per cent at work and 65 per cent in pubs.

In England in 2006 there were approximately 1.4 million NHS (National Health Service) hospital
admissions with a primary diagnosis of a disease that can be related to smoking. This has increased
from around 1.1 million admissions in 1996.


Statistic on Drug Use Among Young People in England in 2006

In 2006, 19% of pupils had taken drugs in the last year, a similar proportion to 2005 (18%) and a
decrease from 21% in 2004.

As in previous years, prevalence of drug taking increased with age: 6% of 11 year olds had taken
drugs in the last year compared with 34% of 15 year olds.

In 2006, as in previous years, pupils were more likely to take cannabis than any other drug. Twelve
percent of pupils aged 11-15 had taken cannabis in the last year, a similar proportion to 2005
(11%). Prevalence in both 2006 and 2005 was lower than in 2004 (13%).

(www.statistics.gov.uk)