Brits: biggest binge-drinkers

British men are the worst binge drinkers in Europe, a poll shows. Despite downing less alcohol in total than many of their Continental cousins, they over-indulge 40 per cent of the time they stop for a drink.

For women, the figure is 20 per cent.

In France, just nine per cent of men's drinking sessions count as benders, the Government report on alcohol abuse showed.

In Italy, the figure is 13 per cent and Germany 14 per cent. Only Sweden and Finland come close, at 33 and 29 per cent respectively. A binge is defined as four pints in one session. Alcohol abuse among 18 to 24-year-old British women is up by 70 per cent since 1992, according to the survey.