Six of ten consumers agree that "life in the 1990s was more exciting and they were approaching 2000 with confidence", according to the Lifestyles report by market analysts Mintel.

Over the past two years, two holidays have replaced saving as a top spending priority, and total spending on holidays and entertainment has risen by 11% in real terms.

Average person spends nearly £10 per month on tickets

Spending on gambling also rose by 13% in 1997 - it has risen by 87% over the past five years. Four in five adults now participate in the Saturday National Lottery draw, and half of us play on Wednesdays.

More than a quarter of adults also received windfall payments from the conversion of building societies to banks in 1997.

No wonder Britons are feeling more optimistic - real personal disposable income has risen by 3% in the last year and spending has risen to match. Real income has risen by 27% in the last decade.

1.5% of spending in 1997 was on wine, cider and soft drinks

Although 30% of adults drink one unit of alcohol or less each week, 67% of adults see nothing wrong with drinking in moderation. The decline in smoking seems to be slowing, however. The total number of cigarette smokers increased slightly, though the proportion of heavy smokers continues to decline.

Britons are not just drinking in pubs, though - spending on pub catering increased 10% from 1996, and more than two thirds of adults without children eat out at least once a week. We are becoming a nation of grazers, too - almost two thirds of under 35-year-olds say they eat snacks, compared with 14% of over 55s.

Britain is not totally preoccupied with fun and games, though - insurance and pensions spending has also grown 12% since 1996 and nearly 60% over the last ten years.
 

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