This schematic illustrates some relationships between motivations to drink and socioeconomic constraints on drinking, drinking patterns, and routine activities related to drinking and associated consequences. Constraints and motivations influence drinking patterns, which in turn influence the relationship between routine activities related to drinking and acute and long-term consequences of drinking. Acute consequences of drinking can reciprocally influence patterns of drinking.

Source: Gruenewald, P. J., et al. Alcohol availability and the ecology of drinking behavior. Alcohol Health & Research World 17(1):39–45, 1993.

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Updated: October 2000