Britons shun lunchtime drinking
Britons are shunning lunchtime drinking in favour of a tipple at teatime on the way home from work, a Europe-wide survey of beer trends by SAB Miller shows.
The survey of drinking habits in 15 European countries showed the average UK drinker enjoys his first beer of the day at 6-14pm.
Only one in ten consumers now enjoy a lunchtime pint and more people are cutting down on midweek drinking.
The poll of 7,500 people confirmed that Saturday is still the favourite night for a beer with 59% relaxing in a pub, restaurant or a drink at home.
The British are now the least likely to drink during the week with only 28% saying they enjoyed a drink notably on a Wednesday.
The Brits also shun mixing business with pleasure after the survey showed 68% having their last drink before 11pm on Mondays to Thursdays.
The poll of drinkers showed the Danes were first at the bar with a 4.41pm average start while the French are the earliest finishers with the average drinker calling time at 8-33pm.
Beer-loving Germans are last to bed with a final beer drunk at 10.59p while almost a quarter of Danes enjoyed a lunchtime drink.
The Czechs were found to be the biggest beer drinkers - and the most patriotic - with 91% preferring their own national beers.
Dr Paul Jennings, social historian lecturer at the University of Bradford, says the statistics reflect the changes in the UK's economic make-up.
"The British work some of the longest hours in Europe and white collar workers have seen the biggest increases in their working hours.
"As we have moved from a manufacturing base to a service led, economically focused economy we are now tied to our desks for longer.
"That just does not apply to working later as the whole cultural shift away from stopping for lunch is further evidenced by the decrease in lunchtime drinking," he said.
