Regional variations in the consumption of alcohol in the U.S.A

Data was analyzed from 13 214 cases of the Health and Nutrition Examination Survey, a large survey of the U.S. general population conducted in 1971 - 1973. Regional differences in alcohol consumption were shown, with the South having the largest portion of abstainers (51.1%) and the Northeast the largest portion of heavy drinkers (17.3%). A log-linear model was used to search for explanatory variables. It was found that when urbanization, ancestry and education are held constant, the regional differences disappear.