The study revealed that many feel worried about being judged for how much they drink
A new study has shown that almost one third of us Brits lie about how much they drink on medical forms. And while it may be Sober October, almost a quarter of Brits drink more than the NHS advised 14 units per week.
Research conducted by Confused.com life insurance has revealed that a whopping 38 per cent of UK adults who consume alcohol lie about their drinking on their medical forms for a variety of reasons, including fear of judgement.
Adults who drink at least one unit of alcohol weekly were asked various questions about their drinking habits for the study, such as the amount of units they consume weekly, how their drinking habits have changed, and if and why they lie on medical forms.
Tom Vaughan, life insurance at Confused.com says: “Whilst people may think that lying about their alcohol intake on medical forms helps them to avoid a difficult conversation, in the end it’s far from being beneficial.
“Health professionals are there to help you, and being truthful about your alcohol consumption can save a lot of time and effort when it comes to diagnosing and treating problems that may be linked to it in some way.
“For those who struggle with their alcohol intake, there are health services and charities that can help. The NHS also has its own programs available, and being honest with your GP about your consumption may be the first step in bringing it down.”
But what are the reasons that people lie about their drinking habits, and how much do Brits drink on average?
Here’s everything the new research uncovered.
How much are Brits drinking on average?
As part of the study, drinkers were asked how many units of alcohol, on average, they consume weekly. Whilst the majority- 59 per cent- drink less than 10 units a week, 23 per cent admitted to drinking more than the NHS recommended weekly limit of 14 units.
Even more worryingly, over one in 10 reported drinking more than 20 units a week, making it the third most selected response.
This response came behind five or six units, which 15 per cent said they drank, and three to four units, which 17 per cent said they consumed weekly.
Why are Brits lying about their drinking on forms?
There were five main reasons Brits said they lie about their drinking habits on medical forms.
These included:
- I don’t want to be judged by a medical professional
- I’m embarrassed to admit how much I drink
- I don’t know how many units I actually drink
- I feel pressure to appear “healthy”
- I’m worried it might go on my medical record
But as Tom Vaughan explains, it’s crucial to be truthful with your GP or other health professionals about how much alcohol you drink in order for them to get you the help you need if your alcohol consumption has become a problem, or if it’s related to any other health conditions.
