Scots more likely to cut back on alcohol if friends do, survey finds

Drinkers in Scotland are almost twice as likely to have tried and succeeded in reducing their drinking when someone they know has cut back, research has found.

Of the Scots who knew someone who had tried to reduce their drinking over the past year, 56% tried to do the same, according to the Drinkaware 2025 Monitor.

For those who did not know anyone who had tried cutting back their alcohol intake, that dropped to 30%.

Of the Scots trying to cut back who also knew someone who had also tried, 42% succeeded in reducing the amount of alcohol they consumed, compared to just 23% who did not know others cutting back.

Overall, 39% of Scots knew someone who had cut back or stopped in the last 12 months, while 35% reported trying to reduce their own alcohol.

Drinkaware found people were drinking less often, and when they did they consumed fewer units and binged less.

They found that while adults in Scotland drink less frequently than those in the rest of the UK, when they do drink, they drink more alcohol.

More than a quarter (26%) of Scots surveyed said they were concerned about another person’s drinking.

Nearly two-thirds (60%) of respondents said they were choosing to moderate their drinking for health reasons.

Some 80% of drinkers in Scotland drink within the chief medical officer’s guidelines, a slight rise since 2020 (79%).

Two in five (41%) who drink above this limit say they feel like they have a healthy lifestyle.

Karen Tyrell, CEO of the charity Drinkaware, said: “With one in five drinkers in Scotland still exceeding the chief medical officer’s low-risk guidelines, of 14 units a week, it is important to understand what motivates people to successfully moderate their drinking.

“Our research shows that when friends or family take that step, it can be a powerful catalyst for you to do the same.

“Creating a ripple effect – one that empowers people to reduce their drinking.

“Harnessing these insights are crucial if we want to reduce alcohol harm, particularly as Scotland continues to focus on a more community-led approach to prevention, as outlined in its public health and social care strategies.

“A quick and easy way to recognise whether your drinking is impacting your health is to take the Drinkaware Drinking Check, which offers personalised advice to help people moderate their drinking.”

YouGov surveyed 1,038 people aged 18 to 85 in Scotland between June 4-26 on behalf of Drinkaware.