Regularity in alcohol distributions: implications for the collective nature of drinking behaviour

The assumption of a one parameter lognormal distribution in the Ledermann theory is relaxed. Implications of only regularity in distributional form for the collective nature of drinking behaviour are considered. It is shown that there must be a so-called point of attraction over which an increase in mean consumption will result in a decrease of percentile point value. The validity of regularity in distributional form and the practical relevance of the Ledermann model is discussed. An example from Dutch data on alcohol consumption among men obtained in 1970 and 1985 illustrates the relevance of an existing point of attraction.