'Ladette' drinking to increase in next five years

Last updated at 09:01 22 April 2005


Alcohol consumption among young women in the UK will increase by almost a third in five years, a report said today.

The study by Datamonitor predicted the consumption of alcoholic drinks by women aged 18 to 24 was set to rise by 31 per cent by 2009.

In 2004 young women in the UK drank an average of 216 litres of alcohol each a year.

Bu the independent market analyst predicted this could rise to 291 litres by 2009.

The report also revealed British women were already "drinking their European counterparts under the table".

Concern has grown recently that young men and women are putting their future health at risk by binge-drinking.

Doctors have already reporting increased cases of alcohol-related liver disease in young people which were once only seen in much older adults.

The so-called "ladette" culture has also fuelled concern that women are becoming more like men in adopting bad habits when it comes to alcohol.

Disposable income

Danielle Rebelo, author of the report, said: "Female young adults have more independence than previously, higher levels of disposable income and there is a growing acceptance for women to consume alcohol."

Young women's consumption of alcohol in the UK is the highest in Europe - and three times the level of France and Spain.

While in 2004 young women in the UK drank an average of 216 litres per year, in France the figure was just 74 and in Italy 66.

After the UK, German young women drank the most - 200 litres - followed by the Netherlands at 106 litres.

Across Europe as a whole the average consumption was 135 litres per young woman in 2004, but this was predicted to increase to 176 litres by 2009.

Feminine beverages

Miss Rebelo said with young women drinking increased amounts of alcohol, more "feminine beverages" were being introduced and there was increased "feminisation of traditional male drinks."

She said the variations across Europe were largely down to cultural differences.

"In Spain, Italy and France young people are more likely to go out to coffee bars or just have one or two drinks.

"But in the UK you are more likely to see groups of women going out together and drinking large amounts of alcohol," the researcher said.

The report said more young adults were going out midweek were driving the alcohol market, with consumers looking to make the most of their leisure time.

It also pointed out young women were much more likely to order a mixed round of drinks than a batch of identical drinks like men.

"This greater individuality reflects a qualitative difference in women's and men's attitudes to going out to drink and also in the drinks offered as women have a greater variety of drinks that are socially acceptable than men do," Miss Rebelo said.