London: Women in highflying jobs drink twice as much than those in manual jobs, according to UK's official statistics, reflecting a startling "cocktail and business card culture" which is on the rise.
Figures from the Office of National Statistics in the UK showed that women in top positions, such as managers in large companies, drink a bottle of wine a week on average, around 11.2 units, compared with 6.2 units for female hairdressers, cleaners and factory workers.
Expressing concerns over the figures, UK's Shadow Health Minister Diane Abbott said the figures lifted the lid on some of the problems around the cocktail and business card culture.
"It's good that more women are out in the workforce and are enjoying social life in pubs and bars. But these disturbingly high figures reveal women's drinking patterns have changed in a generation, reflecting a silent, middle class epidemic," Abbott was quoted as saying by the Daily Telegraph.
"The problem is not just young 'ladettes'. These figures reflect the rise of the British 'Margarita culture', and some of the surrounding problems," she said.
"And the easy availability and low price of supermarket booze have led to more housewives to drink to excess at home. This government needs to bring in a radical new, long-term alcohol strategy including but not limited to a minimum price for alcohol."
Prof Sir Ian Gilmore, chairman of the Alcohol Health Alliance group, said some women used alcohol to cope with daily stresses of balancing work and a family life.
"While alcohol may help people to reduce stress when used occasionally, if its used regularly as a stress buster there is areal risk of it leading to dependence," he added.
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