Survey of alcoholism and excessive drinking in a suburb of Buenos Aires

A cross-sectional household survey of drinking patterns, categorized as alcoholism, excessive drinking, moderate drinking, and abstinence, was conducted in a middle and lower-class section of Greater Buenos Aires. Alcoholism and excessive drinking were present almost exclusively among males, and were more prevalent among the lower levels of education, occupation, or residential area, and also among migrants. Prevalence rates for males, aged 15 +, were: alcoholics 4.4% +/- 2.1 and excessive drinkers 12.2+/- 3.4. Details of the methods, the implication of the findings, and comparisons with other surveys are reported and discussed.