Women are changing the face of the British pub trade, according to a report by market analysts Datamonitor. Young women between 18 and 24 are now drinking an average five bottles of wine a week adding up to 203 litres of alcoholic drink a year, compared to the Italian average of 59 litres. One of the clearest results of increased female drinking has been changing pub environments, with the rise of bars such as All Bar One and Mediterranean style cafés. Report author Andrew Russell said: "In the last 10 years, the culture has changed and to go out and have a drink is entirely acceptable. "Women's effect on the on-trade will not merely be a passing fad. Women's presence in the on-trade has also led to the rise of food occasions. Most noticeable is the rise of gastro-pubs, cafes and other food venues in the UK. "While binge-drinking is common among younger women as a way of proving their equality with men, older women have grown out of this behaviour and many will use food consumption as a way of slowing down the pace of drinking and the effect of alcohol." The report forecasts that per capita female alcohol consumption will rise by 20%, to 242 litres a year, in the UK by 2007. Receipt ------------------- Per capita spend on drink in the on-trade in the UK in Euros ------------------- 1997: 703 2002: 798 2007: 915 Thank you
