Drinking habits throughout the seasons of the year in the Spanish population

This study analyzed patterns of alcohol use among the general population over the age of 16 in Spain, as well as the variation in these patterns during the four seasons of the year.

The study was based on information from the 1997 Spanish National Household Health Survey of 6,396 persons over the age of 16 from a representative sample of noninstitutionalized Spaniards. The study was undertaken in four stages, each one corresponding to one of the four seasons of the year, excluding holidays. Analyses focused on the frequency of alcoholic beverage consumption, preference for different beverages, and the amount of alcohol consumed.

Of those surveyed, 53.2% drank weekly, including 23.7% who drank daily. Mean (SD) alcohol consumption was 22.6 (35.5) grams per day among weekly drinkers and 40.7 (45.9) grams per day among daily drinkers. The frequency of weekly and daily drinking, the type of beverage consumed and the distribution in accordance with the drinking level did not vary over the four seasons. In the case of weekly drinkers, the amount of alcohol consumed was the same during each of the four seasons, but among daily drinkers there was more variation in the amount.

The differences in alcohol intake over the seasons of the year among daily drinkers suggests that assessment of alcohol consumption should consider seasonal variation.