STRICTLY EMBARGOED UNTIL 00:01 SUNDAY 14TH JUNE 2009
Threat of beer bellies and man boobs scaring men into moderation
Concerns about health and looks are driving thousands to cut back on booze
Men are worried that drinking too much alcohol will give them a beer belly or man boobs
according to a new survey for the Know Your Limits campaign published today.
Released during Men’s Health Week, the statistics show that watching the waistline is no
longer only the preserve of women, with more than one in three men (37%) claiming they
would reduce their drinking to cut down on the number of calories they consume. Only
money-saving (44%) is a bigger incentive.
The YouGov survey of almost 1,000 male drinkers over 18 in England revealed:
One in six men (17%) are worried their drinking will lead to man boobs
One in four (27%) are worried about getting a beer belly
More than one in eight (13%) think their boozing is affecting their appearance
Nearly one in ten (9%) worry that excessive drinking is affecting their sexual
performance
The NHS recommends men do not regularly drink more than 3-4 units a day - equivalent to
less than two pints of normal strength beer. According to the Office of National Statistics, an
estimated 6.3 million men in England regularly drink above these limits*.
The YouGov survey revealed more than one in three men (36%) are worried booze is risking
their long-term health, and more than one in five (22%) already feel it is affecting their
general health and wellbeing.
But awareness of the specific health risks is generally worse among men than women. While
most men (73%) were aware of the increased risk of liver disease associated with drinking
above the recommended limits, 83% didn’t know about the link with mouth cancer, 84%
were equally unaware of the risk of throat cancer, and two-thirds (66%) were blind to the
increased risk of stroke.
Encouragingly, when told about these risks, more than a quarter (28%) said it made them
keener to cut down.
Public Health Minister, Gillian Merron said:
"Our survey shows that more and more men are worried about alcohol ruining their looks. It
is encouraging that they are also thinking about their health. Men who drink too much are at
risk of conditions such as liver disease and stroke, as well as getting out of shape.
"Unfortunately, the longer-term effect drinking too much can have on your health is harder to
spot until it’s too late.
"Our Know Your Limits campaign arms people with the facts about how many units are in
their favourite drinks, to help them keep a check on how much they drink each day."
Dr Ian Banks, President of the Men’s Health Forum, is backing the Government’s Know Your
Limits campaign.
He said: “It’s clear men are more concerned about the impact of their drinking on their
bodies than we might imagine. Many of us only begin to see the visual evidence of our
drinking habits as we get older and start to carry excess baggage, but excessive drinking
can also take its toll beneath the skin.
“Most of us enjoy a drink from time to time, and that’s fine. But more men ought to be aware
that drinking a couple of pints of beer or sharing a bottle of wine most days of the week can
push them over the recommended limits, increasing their risk of liver disease, cancer, heart
disease and stroke.”
Chris Sorek, Chief Executive of the DrinkAware Trust said: "Men are clearly worried about
how alcohol affects their looks so Men's Health Week is an ideal opportunity to get back into
shape and start calculating alcohol calories on Drinkaware's website.
“Whether it's drinking with friends in the pub or relaxing at home, it's crucial men keep track
of units to avoid their looks deteriorating and serious health problems including liver and
heart disease, cancer, and reduced fertility. Sticking to the recommended daily unit
guidelines, taking 48 hours off after a heavy session and doing regular exercise will also help
men keep the beer belly - and major illnesses - at bay."
In 2007/08, there were more than 863,000 alcohol-related hospital admissions, an increase
of 69% since 2002/03. Of these, 62% were for men.
Fewer than a third of men (31%) in the YouGov survey reported keeping track of their units.
But a drinks calculator at www.nhs.uk/units does the maths for you, helping drinkers stick
within their limits.
ENDS
Notes to Editors
For media enquiries only please contact the Department of Health newsdesk on 02207 210
5221
Know Your Limits is a joint Department of Health and Home Office initiative, launched in
October 2006. The campaign encourages people to drink responsibly and to recognise what
their limits are when it comes to alcohol. For more information, visit www.nhs.uk/units.
The DrinkAware Trust website, which has a calorie and unit counter, is
www.drinkaware.co.uk
All figures, unless otherwise stated, are from YouGov plc. Total sample size was 1,954
adults living in England who consume alcohol, of which 953 were male. Fieldwork was
undertaken between 16 – 18 March 2009. The survey was carried out online. The figures
have been weighted and are representative of all English adults (aged 18+).
*ONS report ‘Statistics on Alcohol: England 2009’ shows 33% of men were classified as
hazardous drinkers in 2007, which extrapolated to the population of adult males in England
equates to 6.3 million men. Hazardous drinkers are those who regularly exceed
recommended limits.
‘Regularly’ means drinking every day or most days of the week.