fpa launches campaign to ‘enjoy sex responsibly’

Alcohol is commonly seen as a factor in not using a condom with a new partner, regretting sexual activity and having sex with someone who would not normally be found attractive, says the UK sexual health charity.

The charity’s claims are based on new research published by fpa during Sexual Health Week 2009. The charity wants to encourage greater public recognition that alcohol can and does influence sexual decision making, and is distributing posters and leaflets across the UK to encourage people to ‘Enjoy sex responsibly’.

Of the 1,002 people aged 18–30 who had past experience of both alcohol and sex, surveyed online by Ipsos MORI on behalf of fpa, 37% said they had ‘had sex with a new partner without using a condom’. Of this group, 40% said that alcohol was a factor (either a great deal or a fair amount) in what happened.

Of the 38% of all respondents who said ‘I have taken part in sexual activity with someone and then regretted it later’, 70% of these said alcohol was a factor (either a great deal or a fair amount) in what happened. Over a quarter of all respondents (28%) had sex with someone they normally wouldn’t find attractive (fancy), with 73% of them giving alcohol as a factor.

Julie Bentley Chief Executive of fpa, said of the findings:  ‘People don’t go out to take risks, they go out to have a good time. People may start with the best intentions, but drinking alcohol reduces the chances of using a condom with someone new and impairs sexual decision making. fpa isn’t here to tell people how much they should or shouldn’t drink. Our point is, that you’re more likely to take chances with your sexual health if you’ve drunk alcohol.’

Among the group who had not used a condom with a new partner and said they thought alcohol was a factor in the decision (15% of all respondents in total), one in eight (13%) reported that on at least one occasion they or the person they had sex with became pregnant (unplanned). Another 7% of them said that they had contracted a sexually transmitted infection (STI).

Bentley commented: ‘The fact that some people in our research experienced an unplanned pregnancy or an STI as a result of sex under the influence of alcohol is extremely worrying. However, it’s likely there are more people who simply won’t ever know if the sex resulted in a pregnancy, STI or not as they never see that person again.’

The research revealed a difference between an individual’s perceptions of their own behaviour when drinking compared to that of others. Eighty-three per cent agreed with the statement ‘In general people are less likely to use a condom or other contraception when they have sex if they have been drinking alcohol’. However, only 40% agreed that ‘I am less likely to use a condom or other contraception when I have sex if I have been drinking alcohol’. Nine per cent of respondents said that they have been unable to remember whether or not they had sex or exactly what type of sexual activity took place.

Unplanned pregnancy and sexually transmitted infections...a sobering thought? fpa press release, 17 September 2009