[An epidemiological study on the alcohol consumption habits in an urban population]

To quantify alcohol consumption in the town of Valls, differentiating working days from the week-ends, and to find the prevalence of excessive drinkers.

Crossover observational study, with a population base.

Family and community medicine teaching centre of the Primary Care Clinic in Valls, a town with 20,004 inhabitants in the province of Tarragona.

A random sample stratified by sex and age according to the municipal pattern (N = 327 people between 15 and 90). A home interview by the investigator, including a 24-hour record of alcohol consumption (discriminating between working days and the week-end).

Males consumed an average of 23 gr of alcohol per working day and 42.9 gr of alcohol per week-end day (86.5% increase). Women consumed an average of 5.1 gr of alcohol per working day and 18.1 gr per week-end day (255% increase). The proportion of excessive drinkers (more than 60 gr per day in men and 40 gr per day in women) was 12.4% of men and 4.8% of women on working days; and 32.3% of men and 19.9% of women on week-end days. Consumption was significantly related to gender and age groups.

A notable increase in alcohol consumption at the weekend was noted. This is occurring most of all at the expense of the young, who apparently now regularly consume alcohol according to an Anglo-Saxon type pattern.