Perceived consequences associated with the use of beer, wine, distilled spirits, and wine coolers

Based on a national probability sample of 2,401 Americans aged 21 and over (1,069 of whom were deemed "drinkers" on the basis of having drunk at least one alcoholic beverage in the past 7 days), this study examines which of six specific problems people associate with the use of beer, distilled spirits, wine, and wine coolers. It was found that people are most likely to associate alcoholism, birth defects, drunk driving, and fighting and rowdy behavior equally with these four types of alcohol. But when beverage associations are made, distilled spirits and beer are blamed most frequently for these problems, whereas wine and wine coolers are virtually never thought of as being closely related to any of the problems under study. It was also determined that nearly 1 out of every 7 drinkers surveyed stated that birth defects are unrelated to alcohol use of any kind.