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Intelligence in relation to later beverage preference and alcohol intake.
Laust H Mortensen1, Thorkild I A Sørensen, Morten Grønbaek
1Danish Epidemiology Science Centre, Institute of Preventive Medicine, Copenhagen University Hospital, Copenhagen, Denmark.
Addiction (Abingdon, England)
|September 28, 2005
Summary
Higher intelligence quotient (IQ) is linked to a preference for wine over other alcoholic beverages. However, IQ was not associated with overall alcohol consumption levels or heavy drinking.
Area of Science:
- Psychology
- Public Health
- Epidemiology
Background:
- Psychological characteristics significantly influence health behaviors, including drinking habits.
- Understanding the interplay between cognitive abilities and alcohol consumption is crucial for public health initiatives.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the association between intelligence quotient (IQ) and later beverage preferences.
- To examine the relationship between IQ and alcohol intake patterns, including heavy drinking and non-drinking.
Main Methods:
- A prospective cohort study involving 900 obese men and 899 young men from Denmark.
- Intelligence was assessed via draft board examinations between 1956-1977.
- Beverage preference (wine percentage), heavy drinking, and non-drinking were evaluated through follow-ups in 1981-83 and 1992-94.
Main Results:
- A strong dose-response association was observed between higher IQ and a preference for wine.
- Individuals with a 30-point IQ advantage showed increased odds of preferring wine and being non-drinkers.
- The link between IQ and non-drinking disappeared when controlling for socio-economic position, while the IQ-wine preference association remained significant.
Conclusions:
- High IQ is associated with a preference for wine, independent of socio-economic position.
- Intelligence quotient (IQ) is not significantly related to heavy alcohol consumption.
- Cognitive abilities may influence beverage choice more than overall alcohol consumption volume.