Summer sun makes many bigger boozers than in winter

Published on Monday 6 July 2009 22:03

ALMOST a quarter of people drink more alcohol in the summer than in winter, according to a poll.

The chance to sit outside in the sunshine together with more sporting events means people tend to consume more, it suggested.

The survey of more than 2,000 people for the charity Drinkaware found 24 per cent drink more in the summer compared with 10 per cent who said they drink more in the winter.

Almost half (49 per cent) of those questioned also said they had missed key events in their lives due to being in the toilet owing to drinking a lot.

A total of 62 per cent did not know alcohol is a diuretic and that the body produces more urine from alcohol than it does for the same volume of water or soft drinks.

Meanwhile, almost one in five (18 per cent) people said they never keep track of their alcohol consumption.

To mark the summer, Drinkaware has launched a new campaign called Drink Less, Miss Less, encouraging people to regulate their summer drinking.

Chris Sorek, chief executive of Drinkaware, said "The summer is a time to have fun and relax, but it's really important that we all think about how much we're drinking and the effect it can have on our health and well-being.

"Many people are unaware that alcohol makes you pee more than water or soft drinks, but there are other, more serious health implications of drinking to excess or too often."