Search Here

A new survey conducted in the Untied Kingdom found that 17 million British residents plan on drinking less this Christmas. The poll carried out by Cancer Research UK's Dryathlon found that these people, which is around 35 percent, regretted their drunken behaviors during last year's festivities and do not wish to relive them this year. The study also found that 16 percent of British people stated that they will mostly not want to drink during the upcoming winter holiday seasons.

Out of the 4,000 people surveyed, the researchers found that younger adults appeared to be more focused on avoiding the same mistakes they had made the year before. Roughly 45 percent of people between the ages of 18 and 24 stated that they do not want to drink this year due to the embarrassment they felt last year. Only 31 percent of the people over 55 felt the same way.

The survey also detailed the most common regrets shared by people during the holiday season. 15 percent of people reported partaking in inappropriate flirting with colleagues or friends, 12 percent had kissed someone under the mistletoe, 13 percent had admitted a secret and 11 percent texted or called all under the influence of alcohol.

When the researchers looked at regions, they found that people from Northern Ireland reported regretting kissing someone while intoxicated the most. In East Midlands, only six percent regretted kissing someone during the holiday season. In London, 11 percent, which was the highest recorded rate, of people regretted dancing due to intoxication. Aside from embarrassing behaviors, the researchers found that four million people had misplaced their phones, wallets and/ or keys. 3.5 million people were tempted to call in sick the morning after an event.

"As Christmas party season kicks off across the country it seems that people are trying hard not to get caught in the same drink-fuelled mishaps they did last year - which can often mean embarrassing evenings in the company of colleagues and some very sore heads the morning after," the director of marketing at Cancer Research UK, Anthony Newman said according to Medical Xpress.

The Dryathlon runs from the first of January to the 31 in 2014. It encourages people to take a month off from drinking in order to raise money for Cancer Research UK. Registrations are open at Dryathlon.org.