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Number of big drinkers rising

Karen and Andrew Greaves: Karen doesn't drink alcohol and Andrew only drinks beer on weekends. Picture: Simon Santi/The West Australian

An increasing number of West Australians are ignoring health messages and are binge drinking regularly, a survey has found, with higher income households the worst offenders.

The annual HBF Wellness Survey, by Painted Dog Research, found more than one in five people were binge drinking - more than four standard drinks a session - at least once a week and about 3 per cent of people were doing so daily.

The figures were up from last year, when 19 per cent said they binged at least once a week and one per cent said they did so six to seven times a week.

People in "dual income, no kids" households were the heaviest bingers, according to the survey, with 33 per cent binging at least once a week and 5 per cent daily.

Public Health Advocacy Institute director Mike Daube said a common perception was binge drinkers were young people, but drinking to excess was a problem across all ages and sectors.

"We know alcohol use is strongly linked to price and availability," Professor Daube said. "It's therefore not surprising people who can afford alcohol are among the heavier drinkers."

The survey also found people on higher incomes drank more - 41 per cent of those living in households earning more than $160,000 a year binge drink at least once a week and 12 per cent binge drink three to seven times a week.

In households earning less than $80,000, 19 per cent binge drink at least once a week.

Craigie couple Karen and Andrew Greaves fit in the DINK category but said they rarely drank to excess. Mr Greaves said he had drastically cut his alcohol intake and his wife no longer drank.

"A few years ago my doctor told me my drinking was impacting my health, so I cut back to just one or two drinks on weekends," he said.

"I've noticed a big difference in how I feel. I feel much healthier."