Changes in alcohol consumption in a general population in The Netherlands: a 9-year follow-up study

Changes in drinking patterns are described for men and women and per age group using data from a 9-year follow-up study in The Netherlands (n = 1327). Aspects of drinking patterns in our study are drinking status, level of consumption and frequency of heavy drinking. The average consumption and average frequency of heavy drinking are used to examine changes at aggregate level. Changes at individual level are examined in terms of adopting certain drinking patterns (incidence) and continuing certain drinking patterns (chronicity). A small decrease is found in the proportion of drinkers for both sexes. Only women show a decrease in mean consumption. Average frequency of heavy drinking is stable for both sexes. At individual level, proportions of chronicity and incidence of drinking patterns are higher among men. Small aggregate changes in drinking patterns are accompanied by rather large shifts in individual's up-and-down level of consumption and frequency of heavy drinking. No or only very small period effects are observed and little evidence is found for a cohort effect among men. A negative association between incidence and age is found for drinking status among women, for low, moderate and high level of consumption and for heavy drinking for both sexes. In terms of chronicity, negative associations with age are found for drinking status of both sexes, and for high level of consumption and heavy drinking among men.