Britain has identified nine types of problem drinker, from depressed solo tipplers to macho boozers, as part of efforts to fight the country's notorious binge-drinking culture, officials said on Wednesday.

Alcohol-related illnesses and accidents cost the National Health Service (NHS) in England some £2.7-billion a year, without counting the cost to police and others of excessive drinking habits.

Authorities hope that an information campaign, being launched first in England's northwest on a trial basis, will help counter the widespread attitude that a good night out must involve getting excessively drunk.

"This will be a tough one to crack. Research found many positive associations with alcohol among the general public — even more so among those drinking at higher-risk levels," said a spokesperson for the Department of Health.

"For these people, alcohol is embedded in their identity and lifestyle, so much so that challenging this behaviour results in high levels of defensiveness, rejection or even outright denial."

The nine types of problem drinker identified by the department are:

• De-stress drinkers: Those who use alcohol to calm down at the end of a hard day. Typically middle-class men and women.
• Community drinkers: Driven by the need to belong. Usually lower middle-class men and women, who drink in big groups.
• Hedonistic drinkers: Crave stimulation and want to lose control. Often divorced people with grown-up children, with exhibitionist tendencies.
• Macho drinkers: Tend to spend most of their spare time in pubs. Mostly men of all ages.
• Re-bonding drinkers: Use drink as a way of keeping in touch with friends.
• Conformist drinkers: Driven by the need to belong and seek structure. Typically men aged 45-59 in clerical or manual jobs.
• Boredom drinkers: Those who drink to pass the time and relieve monotony.
• Depressed drinkers: Craving comfort, or feeling of safety. Can be of any age, sex or socio-economic group.
• Border dependents: These regard the pub as an alternative home. They visit regularly, at all times of day, weekdays and weekends. Tend to drink quickly.

According to official figures, some 50 000 young people end up in hospital due to drink problems every year in England.

Figures for Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland are collated separately, with health powers devolved around Britain's nations.

"This is a totally fresh approach to helping people understand the effects of their drinking habits and help them make changes for the better," said Public Health Minister Dawn Primarolo.

AFP