Differences in drinking patterns among Ashkenazic and Sephardic Israeli adults

Area of Science:

• Sociology
• Public Health
• Epidemiology

Background:

• Israel has experienced significant immigration, primarily from European (Ashkenazic) and North African/Middle Eastern (Sephardic) Jewish communities.
• Ashkenazic Jews generally hold an advantaged societal position, while Sephardic Jews are relatively disadvantaged.
• Limited research exists on the distinct alcohol consumption patterns between these ethnic groups.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the relationship between ethnicity and alcohol consumption in Israel.
• To compare drinking patterns between Sephardic and Ashkenazic Jewish populations.

Main Methods:

• Utilized a 1995 national Israeli survey dataset comprising 4,984 participants (60% women).
• Employed standardized questionnaires to assess alcohol consumption and drunkenness within the past 12 months and 30 days.
• Applied logistic regression to calculate adjusted odds ratios (ORs) for drinking variables, controlling for confounders like socioeconomic status and religiosity.

Main Results:

• Unadjusted odds ratios revealed a negative association between all alcohol measures and Sephardic group status.
• Adjusted odds ratios, accounting for socioeconomic status and religiosity, yielded similar findings, reinforcing the observed differences.

Conclusions:

• The study concludes that Sephardic individuals are less likely to consume alcohol or become drunk compared to Ashkenazic individuals.
• Further research is recommended to ascertain the temporal stability of these drinking differences and explore potential cultural or genetic determinants.
• The findings are discussed in relation to comparable patterns observed in the United States.