It’s easy to scare a British person; just ask them to do something sober. Specifically, ask them to dance. Because, according to a new report, one in three Britons refuses to wriggle their hips without a bit of liquid courage. Conducted by Breast Cancer UK as part of a campaign to shift perceptions around socialising and alcohol, the study revealed that younger people (aged 18 to 24) were particularly susceptible to needing some booze to boogie, with almost two in five (39 per cent) saying so.
The research also found that more than a quarter of respondents believe they need alcohol to boost their confidence when meeting new people, with 16 per cent of respondents saying they used drinking as an “icebreaker” for first meetings, as others claimed to drink to hide their shyness. “Studies show that alcohol increases our breast cancer risk and can increase levels of circulating hormones, including oestrogen,” said Dr Hannah Moody, director of research and engagement at the charity. “The more we drink, the more this risk increases. But despite the serious health implications, our survey has shown that peer pressure may be stopping some of us from taking preventative action.”
