Department of Health has identified nine groups of heavy drinkers, and the reasons why they drink too much.

What type of drinker are you? Report identifies 9 types of heavy drinker.

Research carried out by the Department of Health has identified nine groups of heavy drinkers, and the reasons why they drink too much. A heavy drinker was defined as drinking at least 35 units for women and 50 for men each week, double the recommended limit. The nine groups found were:
  • Depressed drinker
  • De-stress drinker
  • Re-bonding drinker
  • Conformist drinker
  • Community drinker
  • Boredom drinker
  • Macho drinker
  • Hedonistic drinker
  • Border dependents


Do you fall into any of the above categories?
Depressed drinker
Can be of any age, sex, socio-economic group. Drinks to excess for comfort as a result of a crisis, e.g a family bereavement

De-stress drinker
Use alcohol to help them unwind and calm down after a hard day. Includes middle class men, women and parents, often under work and family pressure

Re-bonding drinker Have busy social lives. Keep in touch by getting together over a drink. Often forget how much they are consuming

Conformist drinker
Typically men aged 45-59, in clerical or manual jobs. Motivated by the need to belong and want structure in their lives. Think that drinking is suppose to be "what men do"

Community drinker
Drink in large friendship groups. Usually lower middle class men and women.

Boredom drinker
Drink to pass the time and relieve monotony.

Macho drinker
Mostly men of all ages. Spend most of their spare time in the pub. Believe they are in control of their drinking.

Hedonistic drinker
Single or divorced with grown up children. Drink to loose control and relieve inhibitions

Border dependents
See the pub as a second home. Motivated by a combination of factors including boredom, apathy and a general dissatisfaction with life. Visit the pub at all times of the day.

The government is to use the information gathered to specifically target heavy drinkers in the north west of England in the coming months in a drive to get people to change their drinking habits. Currently, alcohol related illness/misuse costs the NHS in England £2.7 billion each year.

More information
Know your units! NHS DrinkCheck website www.nhs.uk/units


This content was created on Thu 18 September 2008

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