That is the time the average drinker makes it to the bar after work, according to a survey.

The research also found Britons spend longer in the pub than their continental neighbours.

The survey of drinking habits across Europe found drinkers in this country spent an average of four hours and 27 minutes in the pub.

On average British drinkers leave the pub around 10.30pm.

Spanish drinkers have their first drink at 5.45pm, and the French start drinking around 6pm.

In France they spend an average of around and two hours 35 minutes drinking and in Holland three hours and 30 minutes.

The research, by SAB Miller, also found Brits were more likely to go to the pub on Friday than on any other day.

And it revealed one in ten workers in Britain have a pint at lunchtime, compared with more than 20% of Danes and 18% of Spaniards.

It found around half the alcohol consumed in the UK was drunk in beer. The French drink only 15% of their alcohol in beer, and the Czechs nearly 65%.