Off the rails? Alcohol and public transport in Wales

Note: This report was funded and/or written by our predecessor organisation Alcohol Concern.

Alcohol misuse in Wales is a subject of major public and political concern. Drinking in Wales, as in the rest of the UK, has increased markedly since the 1960s. 52 per cent of men in Wales and 38 per cent of women say they drink more than the recommended amount, and the true figures are likely to be even higher, since research shows that surveys consistently under-estimate alcohol consumption. The consequences of this national habit are to be seen in a range of health problems, and also in crime and disorder in public spaces, including on public transport. At least one train operator in Wales has reported that the majority of assaults on its staff are alcohol-related.