Britons 'prefer pub culture to fitness'

TV's Ab Fab: Drinking and smoking all round

Pub culture is dominating British lives with many people spending far more on cigarettes and alcohol than looking after their health, according to research.

The survey, for the Birmingham Midshires bank, also suggests most families are spenders rather than savers.

Britons' priorities ahead of health

Alcohol and cigarettes

Mobile phones

Music

Satellite TV

Cosmetics

Commuting

Savings

Investments

Fast food

But the most significant findings indicate Britons spend more than six times as much on alcohol and four times as much on cigarettes in a month than they do on keeping fit.

The researchers say this "rock and roll lifestyle" is casting serious doubts over the future health of the nation.

Most people responding to the survey spend around £30 a month on alcohol, although that rises to £50 with people in their twenties, compared to just £5 on looking after themselves.

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Spending money on keeping fit in the month ahead was planned by 20% of the survey respondents.

But one third planned to buy cigarettes and half expected to spend money on alcohol.

Average monthly spending on alcohol

Nationwide: £28.03

Men: £42.51

Women: 14.69

Twenties: £52.03

Buying music, paying for satellite TV subscriptions and spending on cosmetics all came ahead of personal fitness in people's priorities.

Londoners spend the most on health, £7.29 on average a month, and people in the north the least at £1.92.

People earning more than £40,000 a year were found to spend a monthly average of £17.68 on fitness.

Findings 'alarming'

Tim Hague, head of savings and investment marketing at Birmingham Midshires said: "It appears that a pub culture mentality is hurting the health of many Britons.

"People are spending money on cigarettes, alcohol and fast food and very little on health and fitness, which is alarming news for our nation's health and the long-term future of the NHS.

"Our analysis of the nation's money habits also reveals the nation's financial health is suffering, as men and younger people, in particular, are spending lots more money on alcohol and cigarettes than they put into savings or investment products each month."

The researchers interviewed a representative sample of 1,000 people over the telephone between 23 and 27 January this year.

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