Inverness named in Google study as 'second most likely' area of UK to investigate quitting alcohol
Inverness has been named as second in the list of UK areas most likely to show interest in giving up booze.
A study on behalf of a British residential rehab provider found people in the city were among the most likely in the country to search Google for terms related to quitting drinking.
The West Midlands town of Walsall was the only one in the country with a higher proportion of people making searches such as ‘alcoholics anonymous’ and ‘how to stop drinking’, with Wrexham in Wales coming third.
The study ranked the search volume for each term combined and weighted against population to determine the ranking.
Inverness had an average monthly search volume for those kind of terms of 288 per 100,000.
Walsall by comparison topped the list with a figure of 329.
A spokesman for the study’s sponsors Abbeycare Foundation said: “It’s fascinating to see which areas of the UK are most committed to quitting drinking, particularly when you consider the drinking culture across the nation.
“Drinking alcohol is associated with many occasions in everyday life including football games, after-work socialising, dining out, and even at home after a long day of working, but it’s there are lots of ways to enjoy activities with friends and family that can relieve stress and don’t involve alcohol.
“Spending time with nature in green spaces can significantly reduce the stress hormone cortisol, so it’s a perfect way to spend weekends, perhaps after a hectic week of work, instead of having a drink.”