A night out, a holiday, and someone else's wedding day are among the top occasions when Brits are most likely to enjoy an alcoholic tipple, a study has found.
But nearly one in ten (7%) have even knocked back a drink for courage before a job interview, and 10% have done so before a video call.
The poll of 2,000 adults who drink found that one in six (17%) admitted they feel they are the best version of themselves when drinking alcohol – with half (49%) feeling they need it before a social event, to boost confidence.
The top occasions where Brits feel they need a drink to improve their confidence include family gatherings (43%), the first social outing with new colleagues (25%), and catching a flight (23%).
And more than half of Brits (55%) drink to feel their best when on nights out, on holiday (48%), or at someone else's wedding (43%).
The research was commissioned by alcohol-free spirit, SENTIA, co-founded by neuroscientist Professor David Nutt – who has created an alcohol-free beverage that literally “takes the edge off”.
SENTIA co-founder and neuropsychopharmacologist, Professor David Nutt, said: “It’s really interesting to see that more than half of those polled (53%) would choose a drink that gives them all the benefits of alcohol without the negatives, if they could.
“The exciting thing is, with the scientific advances in food technology in recent decades, this drink exists.
“We have discovered a specific blend of botanical ingredients that interact to target GABA activity – that’s the neurotransmitter responsible for sensations of sociability – in the brain.
“This triggers the same response we experience when we have roughly two alcoholic drinks – the volume the majority of those polled said they needed to feel their best self.
“Enhanced GABA activity has been scientifically found to increase sociability and conviviality, whilst reducing anxiety.”
The research also found adults would struggle to dance in public (33%), give a speech (26%), or go on a date (18%) without alcohol in their system.
A further 47% would feel nervous on a first date sober, and 18% would be anxious on their own wedding day.
A night out without drinking would leave people feeling quiet (17%) and uncomfortable (17%).
But 36% wish they could feel this way without having to rely on a drink – and almost half (46%) struggle with confidence in social situations if they’re not drinking.
As well as a boost in confidence, people are more sociable (39%), happy (34%), and talkative (33%) once they’ve got a drink in them.
More than a third feel they “need” a drink in some social situations (37%) – but 18% would find drinking non-alcoholic beverages easier if they knew someone else who was doing the same.
A further four in ten polled, via OnePoll, have tried to give up or cut out alcohol – including two-thirds (63%) of 18-24 year olds, compared to just a third (33%) of over-65’s.
Reasons for trying to cut back included to improve health (59%), save money (50%), and avoid hangovers (38%).
SENTIA spokesman, Brendan Williams, added: “Connection is at the heart of what it means to be human, and drinking is often at the heart of our social occasions.
“We hope to help produce those feelings of sociability in the brain, helping conscious drinkers and healthy hedonists come together and feel great in these moments.”
TOP 25 SITUATIONS BRITS HAVE HAD AN ALCOHOLIC DRINK:
- A night out
- A holiday
- A family gathering
- Someone else's wedding day
- A first date
- My wedding day
- A concert
- First Christmas party with a new job
- A funeral
- A date (not the first date)
- When meeting new friends
- Watching a sports game
- First social occasion with new colleagues
- A hen do
- When meeting my partner's friends
- Before catching a flight
- A stag do
- When a “fresher” at university
- Doing karaoke
- Meeting my partner's family for the first time
- Making an announcement e.g. I'm engaged
- Getting results/news e.g. exam results
- On a video call
- Sharing something on social media
- Playing a sports game e.g. playing football
