Health Survey for England 2019 estimated weekly alcohol consumption, by sex and age group

Among adults that drank alcohol, the average (mean) alcohol units consumed in a typical week was 0.9 units higher with the revised conversion factors. The average (mean) amount drunk was 12.2 units using the original conversion factors compared with 13.1 units with the revised conversion factors. Among men who drank alcohol, this difference was 1.3 units (15.7 compared with 16.9 units) and among women who drank alcohol the difference was 0.5 units (8.7 compared with 9.2 units). The difference in mean consumption was higher among men than women.

Base: Current drinkers, aged 16 and over, HSE 2019

The difference in mean consumption between estimates using the original and revised conversion factors varied by age group. It was largest among men aged 45 to 74.

Using the revised conversion factors, a higher proportion of adults that drank alcohol were classified as drinking at increasing or higher risk (over 14 units of alcohol a week): 28% using the original conversion factors compared with 30% using the revised conversion factors. This was the case for men (37% compared with 39%) and women (20% compared with 22%).

Among all adults, 23% were classified as drinking at an increasing or higher risk (over 14 units of alcohol a week) according to the original conversion factors compared with 24% of adults with the revised conversion factors. Among men, the proportion drinking at increasing or higher risk increased from 30% to 32% with the revised conversion factors, and among women from 15% to 17%. 

The broad patterns in the proportions of men and women drinking at increasing or higher risk by age group were similar with the revised and original conversion factors. The proportions of men and women who usually drank more than 14 units in a week varied across age groups, increasing up to the age of 55 to 64. Across all age groups, men were more likely than women to drink at increasing or higher risk levels. These patterns were similar regardless of the conversion method used.

Across each age-group, the revised conversion factors resulted in an increase of one or two percentage points in the proportion of adults who usually drank more than 14 units in a week compared with original conversion factors.