Nearly a year’s hangover for average British drinker, leading charity warns

Macmillan Cancer Support has estimated that people spend a total of 315 days of their lives battling with headaches and nausea caused by excessive drinking.

The charity, which is running a fundraising campaign called Go Sober for October, surveyed 2,000 British adults and found that one in 14 will have more than 3,000 hangovers in their lifetime.

It calculated the figures by multiplying the average amount of time people spend hungover each month with their life expectancy.

The poll also revealed that there is a North-South divide with the frequency of hangovers, with 22 per cent of people from the North likely to have more than four each month compared to 15 per cent of people from the South.

Women’s hangovers appear to last longer – with the average lasting nine hours – compared to a seven hour hangover suffered by men.

One in every 13 of those surveyed revealed they had missed a first date because they were too hungover, and one in 10 
claimed they had missed a job interview.

“This research shows hangovers are a waste of time and are causing people to miss out on everything from romance to their dream job,” said Hannah Redmond, the head of national events marketing for Macmillan Cancer Support. “That’s why we’re asking people to sign up for Macmillan’s Go Sober fundraising event, abstain from drinking alcohol for the month of October and ask family and friends to sponsor them.

“The money raised will provide vital funds to support people affected by cancer so they don’t have to face it alone.”

To find out more about the campaign, which is aimed at 
improving health while also 
saving money for anyone taking part while they abstain from 
alcohol, visit www.gosober.org.uk.