Understanding changes in the locations of drinking occasions in Great Britain: An age‐period‐cohort analysis of repeat cross‐sectional market research data, 2001–2019

INTRODUCTION: The 21st century has seen wide‐ranging changes in drinking locations in Great Britain, with on‐trade alcohol sales decreasing and off‐trade sales increasing. To better understand the underlying time‐trends in consumer behaviour, we examine age‐period‐cohort (APC) effects related to changes in the share of individuals' drinking occasions taking place in: (i) on‐trade versus off‐trade locations; and (ii) specific on‐trade or off‐trade locations, that is traditional/community pubs, modern pubs/bars/café bars, nightclubs/late‐night venues, restaurants/pub restaurants, social/working men's clubs, golf/other sports clubs/venues, at home (social setting) and at home (non‐social setting). METHODS: Repeat cross‐sectional 1‐week drinking diary data, collected 2001–2019. APC analysis via negative binomial regression models for each gender (N = 162,296 men, 138,452 women). RESULTS: A smaller/declining proportion of occasions took place in on‐trade compared to off‐trade locations. Recent cohorts tended to have a larger share of on‐trade occasions than previous cohorts, driven by their larger share of occasions in modern pubs/bars/café bars and nightclubs/late‐night venues. Meanwhile, occasions in social/working men's clubs, golf/other sports clubs/venues and traditional/community pubs tended to be popular among older men, but have declined. Finally, the growth of off‐trade drinking appears to be driven by a growth of off‐trade drinking in non‐social settings, in particular by older people/cohorts. DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSION: Our findings highlight the declining prominence of certain on‐trade locations, and increasing prominence of home drinking in non‐social settings, within British drinking practices. While rising non‐social home drinking is concerning, it is positive from a public health perspective that it does not appear to be shared by recent cohorts.