Alcohol consumption and suicide mortality by age among Finnish men, 1950-1991

An earlier comparative time series analysis of the connection between per capita alcohol consumption and suicide mortality reported, unexpectedly, a non-significant effect of alcohol on the suicide rate of Finnish men. However, the suicide rate of Finnish men is heterogeneous in regard to age groups. There is also indication that the connection between alcohol and suicides is stronger in younger than in older age groups. Time series data on per capita alcohol consumption and age-specific suicide mortality in 1950-91 were used to scrutinize the relationship. The results indicate that the suicide rate of Finnish men in age groups 15-34 years and 35-49 years is associated with per capita alcohol consumption, while no connection could be established between the suicide rates of men aged 50-69 years and 70+ years and either per capita alcohol consumption or a lagged consumption measure. Real income, divorce rate and unemployment rate were regarded as possible confounding variables.