WSTA welcomes ONS alcohol statistics

30 May, 2013

By Christian Davis

The Wine & Spirits Trade Association (WSTA) has welcomed the latest figures from the UK government’s Office of National Statistics (ONS) showing that the majority of people are drinking within weekly guideline amounts and increased awareness of alcohol units.

The figures also show that alcohol consumption in the UK has continued to decline, down a further 4.5% on last year.

WSTA chief executive Miles Beale said: “Today’s ONS figures show that significant progress is being made with the majority of people drinking within weekly guideline amounts and overall levels of alcohol consumption continuing to decline.

“Whilst we are concerned by the increase in alcohol related deaths these figures show that the Government must target its effort on the minority who drink to excess instead of penalising the responsible drinking majority,” said Beale.