People in Jersey drink more than rest of UK

Island-dwellers in Jersey drink more alcohol per year than the rest of the UK, according to new figures.

(Photo: Maxian/iStock)

The latest Statistics Units Alcohol Profile shows tha tone in four Jersey residents over the age of 15 are drinking at hazardous levels.

On average, Jerseymen and Jerseywomen drink around 12 litres of alcohol per year; two litres more than those in the UK.

This is the equivalent of just over a glass of wine per day, or ten pints per week.

On the other hand, Islanders are still drinking less than they were a decade ago.

Alcohol consumption levels on the isaldn of Jersey are down 17% since 2007. Jersey’s director of public health, Martin Knight, told the Jersey Evening Post that he was pleased to see the decline in drinking, citing rising costs as a key reason behind the shift.

“Increasingly Islanders are drinking less. There has been a culture shift to healthier lifestyles and people are starting to socialise more without alcohol,’ he said.

Knight said there was strong evidence to suggest that rising alcohol tax could explain why Islanders are drinking less.

“It particularly reduces the accessibility of alcohol to children and young people.”

The news comes as the UK government prepares to launch an attack on low-cost, high-alcohol drinks such as white cider.

During last week’s Autumn Statement, Chancellor Phillip Hammond said that the government would freeze tax on most alcohol ahead of the Christmas period, but suggested that special measures would be put in place for budget drinks with higher ABVs.