Britons Would Rather Quit Booze Than Meat, Data Shows

​British people have admitted they would rather give up alcohol than meat for January, a new study has revealed. 

According to research conducted by Gosh! the plant-based snack brand, a total of 70 per cent of people said they would rather go teetotal for Dry January than participate in Veganuary (the 30-day vegan challenge in January). This is despite nearly half of those (45 per cent) who went vegan last year successfully maintaining the diet afterwards.  

This month sees the biggest Veganuary campaign to date as more people embrace healthier lifestyles and want to help fight against climate change by lowering their carbon footprint. The vegan challenge asks participants to eat only plant-based foods (avoiding meat, fish, dairy and eggs) for the month.   

The environment is a top motivation for 26 per cent of the survey respondents, closely followed by health reasons (25 per cent) and being experimental with new foods (21 per cent). While nearly one in five people in Britain are estimated to have taken part in Veganuary this year, many cite price and difficulty as reasons for apprehension.  

The survey also reveals that five per cent of Britons are more likely to run a marathon than take part in Veganuary.  

The research by Gosh! which makes vegan and free-from bites, burgers and sausages, comes amid the biggest Veganuary campaign to date as more and more people embrace healthier, more ethical diets throughout the first month of the new year.  

With vegan meals costing around 40 per cent less than meat or fish-based meals, the number of vegans in the UK is estimated to be around 600,000 and is on the increase with Google searches for ‘vegan recipes’ and ‘vegan meals’ hitting an all-time high during the pandemic. 

 A spokesperson at Gosh! said: “Veganuary is the perfect time to discover and experiment — and it’s great to see around a fifth of us feel the same! Veganuary is often associated with what you have to give up, but there’s so much that you gain as well.  

“Whether you’re challenging yourself to learn new recipes, try new foods, or just generally eat a bit healthier, it’s a great way to start the year off”.  

Last year, half of the people on a plant-based diet who were surveyed saw some improvement to their health, with half reporting, increased energy and mood (49 per cent and 46 per cent respectively), and a further 38 per cent claiming their skin looked and felt better. 

Gosh! products are made with 100 per cent natural ingredients and are free from the top 14 allergens. The whole range is accredited by Vegetarian Society, Vegan Society, Coeliac Society, Kosher Accreditation: KLBD (Kosher London Beth Din) and SKA (Sephardi Kashrut Authority). 

Completely plant-based and made with 100 per cent natural ingredients (no nasties or alternatives) Gosh! products are additive-free, healthy, nutritious and ready-to-eat.  

All Gosh! products are free from the top 14 allergens and the whole range is accredited by Vegetarian Society, Vegan Society, Coeliac Society, Kosher Accreditation: KLBD (Kosher London Beth Din) and SKA (Sephardi Kashrut Authority).  

Camilla Thomson, Interim Practice Leader, FMCG & Manufacturing, said "Over the past two years I have significantly reduced my meat consumption due to health & environmental reasons and a lot of my home cooking is vegetarian/ vegan. The options that companies like Gosh! offer in supermarkets now has made the transition much easier.

We are a nation that loves convenience and I am very much in that category so I am looking forward to incorporating more Vegan dishes into my lifestyle to encourage not only a healthier diet but help the world we live in."

To discuss upcoming opportunities, please reach out to Camilla via camilla.thomson@acre.com

​Camilla has joined Acre as an Interim Lead to help grow the interim function. As the contract market within Sustainability takes shape, Camilla can provide flexible support to clients who may face challenges or embarking on new projects related to Sustainability.

Prior to joining Acre, Camilla spent 7 years in Technology interim recruitment working with clients across various industries. Her career to date has been focused on business development and growing contract teams internally.