I read this article on the BBC recently about alcohol consumption in the UK. In passing it mentions how many people in the UK are teetotal. I found the number reported – 21% – unbelievable so I checked out the source for the numbers.
Sure enough, ~20% of the UK population are indeed teetotal (see plots). The breakdown by gender and age is perhaps to be expected. There are fewer teetotal men than women. Older women (65+) in particular are more likely to be teetotal. There has been a slight tendency in recent years for more abstinence across the board, although last year is an exception. The BBC article noted that young people are pushing up the numbers with high rates of sobriety.
There are more interesting stats in the survey which you can check out and download. For example, London has the highest rate of teetotallers in the UK (32%).
I thought this post would make a fun antidote in the run up to the holidays, which in the UK at least is strongly linked with alcohol consumption.
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The post title is taken from “Lemonade Secret Drinker” by Mansun, which featured on their first EP (One). It’s a play on “Secret Lemonade Drinker” the theme from R Whites Lemonade TV commercial in the 70s/80s (which I believe was written and sung by Elvis Costello’s father).