Media has heaviest drinkers, poll finds

 Published Date: July 23, 2009

Thanks to a link from a former student of mine, I saw the following story from the Guardian in London:

Media has heaviest drinkers, poll finds

Media workers are the heaviest drinking professionals in England, consuming the equivalent of more than four bottles of wine or more than 19 pints of beer a week, according to government research.

People in the profession drink an average of 44 units a week, around double the recommended limit, a Department of Health survey finds.

The NHS recommended maximum alcohol consumption for men is 21 to 28 units a week – three to four units a day. For women, the maximum is 14-21 units a week – two to three units a day.

Media workers are the biggest consumers of wine, drinking on average one and a half bottles a week. They are also the biggest drinkers of spirits, liqueurs and shots, taking on average 3.2 measures a week, finds the poll by YouGov for the government’s Know Your Limits campaign.

Rest of story.

After working and hanging out with a number of British journalists in Hong Kong, I have to say I have been impressed with their ability to imbide the spirits.

Now I ask the same thing my former student did: What are the U.S. stats?

Thanks to the most recent survery (2002-2004) by the CDC, in the States,  we know:

  • 61.4% of all U.S. adults are current drinkers
  • 5 % are heavy drinkers
  • One in three had five or more drinks in one day
  • The most prevelent age for drinking is 25-44. (Men -76%, women 63%. And it declines from there.

But nothing on professions and drinking.

So I wonder:

  • Are there any new studies?
  • Any studies that show professions and drinking habits?
  • What ever happened to journalists who drink bourbon and scotch?

Comments? Ideas?