Drinking habits and detection of heavy drinking among middle-aged women

Little is known about alcohol consumption and the efficiency of alcohol questionnaires among women. In the present study 40-year-old (n = 90) and 45-year-old (n = 75) women participating in a health screening gave a self-report about their alcohol consumption and filled out the Malmö modified Michigan Alcoholism Screening Test (Mm-MAST) and the CAGE questionnaires. Teetotallers comprised 11% of the 40-year-old group and 8% of the 45-year-old women. CAGE, but not Mm-MAST worked with the traditional cut-off point of two recommended for men. When the criterion for heavy drinking was a self-reported consumption > or = 140 g of absolute alcohol per week or a positive (> or = 2) finding in the CAGE or > or = 4 'yes' answers in the Mm-MAST, 20% of the 40-year-old and 17% of the 45-year-old group (together 19%) proved positive. Neither of the two questionnaires nor self-report alone worked perfectly for identifying the heavy drinker group (n = 31) screened. Using the three above criteria; of the heavy drinkers 52% were detected by self-report, 55% by CAGE, and 45% by Mm-MAST. CAGE in combination with self-report detected 90% and this combination, being short and simple, can be recommended for clinical practice.