[Alcohol consumption in a Danish cohort study over a period of 11 years]

A cohort living in Copenhagen County, originally consisting of 1198 persons, 577 men and 621 women, who were 40 years old in 1976, was reexamined in 1981 and again in 1987, 1052 (88%) participated in 1976, 922 (84%) in 1981, and 965 (85%) in 1987. The purpose of this study was to describe alcohol consumption changes in the cohort, with a view to identifying subgroups who significantly change their alcohol consumption behaviour. The same questionnaire was employed all three times to measure the alcohol consumption level and frequency. Alcohol consumption peaked in 1981 (45-years old) with 10.4 drinks on average a week. Men increased 8% and women 37%. There is an overall downward tendency in the consumption frequency among men whereas the opposite is the case among women. The two groups are converging toward a weekly consumption level. It seems now that the women are leading the change in the content of consumption with relatively more wine consumption. Therefore it is concluded that female consumption should be considered a target in future preventive programs.