People who make a lot of money are more likely to drink regularly, according to a report by the Daily Mail.
Close to four out of five of people working in managerial and professional roles consumed alcohol he the previous week.
The survey conducted in England found a link between alcohol consumption and income and age. Only 46.5% of people earning under £10,000, drunk alcohol in the last seven days.
The 'wine o'clock' culture trend could be taking a toll on health, experts warn.
Experts also believe it is a way to de-stress.
"We frequently see them drinking dangerous levels to 'self-medicate' for work stress. Professionals regularly drink large glasses of wine that contain three units or more without batting an eye. Then they have a second, " Alcohol addiction specialist Steve Clarke, based at the Priory Group’s hospital in Woking, Surrey, told the Daily Mail.
Adding, "Middle-class drinkers are unlikely to pay attention to Government health warnings as they may be less likely to believe they get excessively drunk, and can withstand increases in prices."
Dr Tony Rao, who specialises in substance misuse in older people at the Royal College of Psychiatrists, believes the issue needs to be addressed sooner rather than later. "This is a problem that is likely to grow out of control unless we address the affordability and availability of alcohol," Dr Rao told the Daily Mail.
