Just 5% of Britons are giving something up for Lent

 (Photo: Getty/iStock)

Only a small proportion of Brits are marking the season of Lent by giving something up, according to a poll.

It is a tradition for Christians to sacrifice something they love, like coffee and chocolate, during the 40 days leading up to Easter. 

But a survey by YouGov indicates that even most Christians are not giving something up this year - just 11% said they were doing so. 

This is a significant fall from the 20% of British Christians who said they were when they were asked the same question in 2012. 

In the wider population, just 5% of Brits overall said they were giving something up for Lent this year, down from 12% in 2012. 

Of those giving something up, half said it was chocolate and sweets. 

Nearly one in five (17%) said they would abstain from alcohol and going to the pub, and one in 10 said they were going without fatty foods. 

Eight per cent are abstaining from sex and the same proportion said they were giving up eating out and takeaways.  

News
New Catholic head says lessons must be learned from abuse failings
New Catholic head says lessons must be learned from abuse failings

The newly installed Archbishop of Westminster has said the Church must learn from victims of sexual abuse.

Young adults abandon marriage as pensioners overtake under-25s - report
Young adults abandon marriage as pensioners overtake under-25s - report

The institution of marriage has undergone a dramatic transformation over the past five decades - particularly among young adults.

Iconic cathedral to run truth project during Lent
Iconic cathedral to run truth project during Lent

One of England’s most well-known, historic and picturesque cathedrals has announced plans to run a Lent series looking at truth in the modern world.