Nearly eight million British drinkers are knocking back at least half the recommended weekly alcohol limit in a single day as heavy drinking rises sharply, new research reveals.The proportion consuming seven units or more on a typical drinking day has jumped from 14 to 17 per cent in just 12 months.Seven units – half the recommended maximum for an entire week – is roughly equivalent to just over three-quarters of a bottle of 12 per cent wine or more than three pints of lower-strength beer.NHS guidance recommends men and women regularly drink no more than 14 units a week, ideally spread over at least three days.Binge drinking – eight or more units for men and six or more for women – is also rising, with an estimated 6.3million people bingeing at least once every week, up from 11 to 13 per cent of drinkers in a year.The new research, from alcohol charity Drinkaware and based on a survey of 7,210 UK adults, also found fewer people are drinking modest amounts.The proportion consuming four units or fewer on a typical drinking day fell from 71 to 67 per cent.The proportion staying within the 14-unit weekly guideline dropped from 82 per cent last year to 78 per cent this year.Heavy drinking is rising sharply in Britain | PEXELSIt is the first fall after the figure steadily improved between 2018 and 2025.The apparent reversal comes as alcohol continues to take a huge toll on the health service.More than one million alcohol-related hospital admissions were recorded in England in 2023/24 under the broadest official measure, which includes cases where an alcohol-related condition was either the main or a secondary diagnosis.The rate was the highest recorded since the current series began in 2016/17 and was significantly higher than the previous year.Britain’s drinking is far from contained to pubs and nights out, according to the study | Getty Images There were also 339,916 admissions for conditions wholly caused by alcohol.The study shows Britain’s drinking is far from confined to pubs and nights out.Figures supplied alongside the research reveal one in five drinkers regularly drinks at home alone.Among these, 43 per cent said they do so to unwind or de-stress, while 39 per cent said they enjoy the taste.More than a quarter – 27 per cent – see alcohol as a reward after a long day.Separate University College London research published earlier this year also challenged Gen Z’s reputation as “generation sensible”, finding 68 per cent of 23-year-olds had binge drunk in the previous year and 29 per cent did so at least monthly.In the latest Drinkaware survey, however, it was older Britons who recorded the biggest increase in regular binge drinking.Among those aged 55 and over, the proportion binge drinking at least once a month jumped from 20 to 24 per cent.The change comes despite record numbers saying they are trying to cut back.Karen Tyrell, CEO of Drinkaware, said: “Prevention has never been more important, and we must remain focused on supporting people to find their balance with alcohol and reduce risky drinking behaviours. With the bank holiday around the corner, sunshine and extra free time are valuable opportunities to socialise and connect with friends and family, but they can also make it easier to drink more than usual.”Grahame Morris MP, Chair of the All-Party Parliamentary Group on Drugs, Alcohol and Justice, said: “The increase in heavier drinking highlighted in this research should concern us all. Drinking above recommended levels can have serious consequences for physical and mental health, as well as for families and communities.”Sir Ian Gilmore, Chair of the Alcohol Health Alliance, said: “The Drinkaware survey adds to the picture that we are drinking more often and more dangerously in this country. The reasons need to be scrutinised, and I would highlight the incessant marketing by the drinks industry and the recent rise of home deliveries of alcohol to people’s homes 24/7.”Prof Gilmore, former president of the Royal College of Physicians added: “Someone can call at 2am to get a delivery in less than 20 minutes -often without the required attention to their age or sobriety. It is 14 years since we had a Government strategy to reduce the harm from alcohol, and the quoted surveys from Drinkaware and UCL should add to that wake-up call.”