My latest poll collaboration with Mark Wadsworth has attracted an impressive response of over 300 people. For once, the results show a fairly normal distribution, with a substantial number who don’t drink at all (presumably mostly Mark’s readers) and then, amongst those who do drink, a peak in the 21-30 units range which tails off in each direction. Nine people, though, are willing to admit that they routinely drink over 100 units a week. The original poll and associated comments can be seen here.
Given that the official guidelines lay down a maximum of 21 units a week as consistent with a healthy lifestyle, this will no doubt be disappointing to the anti-drink lobby.
I deliberately included the “none of your business” option as people are fully entitled to take the view that questions of this kind are unnecessarily intrusive. Recently, I was asked to complete a health questionnaire by my dentist which included a question on alcohol consumption. While recognising that heavy drinking can be a risk factor for mouth cancer, I took the view that was nothing to do with him, so handed it back with that part left blank.
The notable omission from that table is my preferred option: "I don't feel the need to count" :-)
ReplyDelete12% None?
ReplyDeleteI'm getting better at voting multiple times ;)
None = 12% ?
ReplyDeleteI think you underestimate the wicked sense of humour of your respondents.
I would suggest that most of the 12%ers be re-classified into the over 100 bracket.
Let's not forget that, along with '5-a-day', the alcohol unit system was made up without reference to any particular research or evidence.
ReplyDeleteI voted 76-100, but then I thought we were talking about pints..
ReplyDelete