The growing global trend towards a healthier lifestyle is also reflected in the downward trend in alcohol consumption. On Monday, the JD Wetherspoon pub chain said it placed on hold its expansion plan because of a dip in sales of beer and wines, linking the drop to the smoking ban in public places.
But a separate survey said four-fifths of drinkers indicated the smoking ban did not curb their pub visits, while another 15 percent said it will increase their intake of liquor in bars.
While the relationship between smoking and drinking is getting hazy, ONS data showed alcohol intake is on the decline the past six years from 29 percent to 23 percent for males and 17 percent to 12 percent among females.
The benchmark of acceptable levels of alcohol consumption is 21 units a week for men and 14 units for women.
But most of ONS' data on alcohol consumption were comparisons between economic status, gender and regional origin than comparisons over time. The middle class drank 15.1 units a week, while those employed in routine and manual jobs imbibed only 11.6 units within 7 days. English people drank the most at 13.7 units every week, followed by Welsh with 13.5 units and Scots at 11.6 units.
The ONS said it was difficult to compare drinking habits over time because the definition of units changed with the use of larger glasses, stronger spirits and larger measures.
A recent article in the American Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology linked miscarriages with various factors, including smoking, alcohol and coffee consumption, age, social status and education.
