Women in UK are worst binge drinkers in world

Women in England and Ireland are officially the world's biggest binge drinkers, according to a unique study of global alcohol consumption.

One in three 17- to 30-year-olds is now classed as a heavy drinker, bingeing on four or more drinks in one session at least once a fortnight.

The findings are based on a survey of more than 17,000 women and men from 21 countries, including Belgium, France and the United States, in the largest study ever carried out into worldwide drinking habits.

The study reveals that excessive drinking has soared in England, but has declined in Germany and France. In Ireland, nearly two-thirds of young women are rated as heavy drinkers. But even though some 26 per cent of British men binge drink, England does not feature at the top of the male heavy drinkers league table. This is dominated by Belgium, Colombia, Ireland and Poland.