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Racial patterns of alcoholic beverage use
Alcoholism, Clinical and Experimental Research
|January 1, 1983
Summary
Alcohol consumption varied by race and sex in a 1978-1980 study. While most groups drank moderately, Asian individuals reported lower alcohol intake, and men generally drank more than women.
Area of Science:
- Public Health
- Epidemiology
- Sociology
Background:
- Alcohol consumption patterns are influenced by various demographic factors.
- Understanding race and sex differences in drinking is crucial for public health initiatives.
- Historical data provides a baseline for tracking changes in alcohol use over time.
Purpose of the Study:
- To examine alcohol consumption patterns across different racial and sex groups.
- To identify trends in alcohol use and heavy drinking over a 15-year period.
- To investigate the association between alcohol consumption and cigarette smoking.
Main Methods:
- Analysis of health examination data from 59,766 individuals (1978-1980).
- Categorization of participants by self-classified race and sex.
- Assessment of reported alcohol intake, including frequency, quantity, and type of beverage.
Main Results:
- White and Latin individuals reported the highest alcohol consumption (89.5% and 84.8%, respectively), while Chinese and Filipino individuals reported the lowest.
- Heavy drinking (3+ drinks daily) was similar in White, Latin, and Black individuals but lower in Asian groups.
- Men across all races reported higher alcohol consumption than women. A strong alcohol-cigarette smoking association was observed in all groups.
Conclusions:
- Significant variations in alcohol consumption exist across racial and sex groups.
- A decline in abstainers and heavy drinkers, along with narrowing race-sex differences, was observed compared to 15 years prior.
- Public health strategies should consider these demographic variations in alcohol consumption.