Why are women DRINKING MORE?

With binge-drinking in Britain on the rise, we investigate what is driving the increase

- JUDY COGAN. MAIN

In the summer months many of us love to enjoy glasses of rosé, jugs of Pimm’s and the occasional Aperol spritz al fresco with friends and family at barbecues, sporting events and down the pub. After all, who doesn’t look forward to a few drinks after a long day or week at work?

For some people, though, it can end up being a booze binge, drinking in excess and waking up the next day with a foggy head and filled with dread.

New figures reveal binge-drinking in Britain is up by 13%, but it’s not down to men, it’s women driving the increase.

In fact, British women are the biggest female binge-drinkers in the world, according to a 2023 report released by the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD), which compared alcohol consumption across 33 countries.

But what’s driving the rise and what do we need to do to bring it down? One woman tells us how she successfully broke free from the UK’s binge-drinking culture and why going ober was the best decision she’s ever made.

‘I ACCEPTED THAT DRINKING WASN’T FUN ANY MORE’

Star Khechara, 48, lives in Brighton

I was a typical teen in 90s Britain, bingeing on cider in the park or raiding drinks cabinets around friends’ houses. No one asked us for ID and the ladette culture reigned supreme.

As an awkward 14-year-old, alcohol became my magic potion – it silenced the chaos in my head, while helping me act like a normal teenager. I didn’t know it at the time but I would later be diagnosed with ADHD, and I’m currently on the waiting list for my autism assessment.