National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism http//www.niaaa.nih.gov/ https://webarchive.library.unt.edu/eot2008/20080916114510/http://www.nih.gov/
Skip Navigation Advanced Search Tips
    Publications         Research Information         Resources         News | Events         FAQs         About NIAAA     Text size Small Size Default Text Large Text
Resources
View a printer-friendly version of this page  Printer-Friendly Version
Percent distribution of current drinking status, drinking levels, and heavy drinking days by sex for persons 18 years of age and older: United Status, NHIS, 1997–2006.


[dkpat25.htm, updated 12/07]

 

Gender group

Male

Female

Total

Estimate

95% CI

Estimate

95% CI

Estimate

95% CI

Drinking Status

 

 

 

 

 

 

Lifetime abstainer

 

 

 

 

 

 

2006

17.7

(16.5–18.9)

31.7

(30.3–33.0)

24.9

(23.9–26.0)

2005

17.9

(16.9–18.8)

30.2

(29.2–31.2)

24.3

(23.5–25.1)

2004

17.8

(16.9–18.8)

30.7

(29.8–31.7)

24.6

(23.8–25.3)

2003

17.6

(16.7–18.5)

31.3

(30.2–32.4)

24.7

(23.9–25.6)

2002

14.8

(13.9–15.7)

28.8

(27.9–29.7)

22.1

(21.4–22.8)

2001

15.2

(14.3–16.0)

29.3

(28.4–30.2)

22.5

(21.8–23.2)

2000

17.5

(16.7–18.3)

30.0

(29.0–31.1)

24.0

(23.2–24.8)

1999

14.7

(13.8–15.6)

29.4

(28.5–30.4)

22.4

(21.6–23.2)

1998

14.4

(13.7–15.2)

28.6

(27.7–29.4)

21.8

(21.2–22.4)

1997

14.0

(13.3–14.7)

27.6

(26.8–28.5)

21.1

(20.5–21.7)

Former drinker

 

 

 

 

 

 

2006

14.8

(13.8–15.7)

13.8

(13.0–14.6)

14.3

(13.6–14.9)

2005

14.3

(13.7–15.0)

14.4

(13.7–15.0)

14.4

(13.9–14.8)

2004

14.5

(13.8–15.3)

14.6

(14.0–15.3)

14.6

(14.1–15.1)

2003

14.8

(14.1–15.5)

13.7

(13.0–14.3)

14.2

(13.7–14.7)

2002

15.2

(14.5–16.0)

15.0

(14.3–15.6)

15.1

(14.6–15.6)

2001

15.5

(14.8–16.3)

14.1

(13.4–14.8)

14.8

(14.3–15.3)

2000

14.3

(13.6–15.0)

14.3

(13.7–14.9)

14.3

(13.8–14.8)

1999

15.3

(14.6–16.1)

14.5

(13.8–15.2)

14.9

(14.3–15.4)

1998

16.2

(15.5–17.0)

15.7

(15.1–16.2)

15.9

(15.4–16.4)

1997

15.6

(14.9–16.2)

15.4

(14.8–16.0)

15.5

(15.0–15.9)

Current drinker

 

 

 

 

 

 

2006

67.6

(66.3–68.8)

54.5

(53.2–55.8)

60.8

(59.8–61.8)

2005

67.8

(66.8–68.9)

55.4

(54.4–56.5)

61.4

(60.5–62.2)

2004

67.6

(66.5–68.7)

54.6

(53.6–55.7)

60.8

(60.0–61.7)

2003

67.6

(66.6–68.6)

55.1

(53.9–56.2)

61.1

(60.2–61.9)

2002

70.0

(68.9–71.1)

56.2

(55.2–57.2)

62.8

(62.0–63.6)

2001

69.3

(68.4–70.2)

56.6

(55.6–57.5)

62.7

(62.0–63.4)

2000

68.2

(67.2–69.2)

55.6

(54.6–56.7)

61.7

(60.8–62.5)

1999

70.0

(68.9–71.0)

56.1

(55.1–57.2)

62.7

(61.9–63.5)

1998

69.3

(68.3–70.3)

55.8

(54.8–56.7)

62.3

(61.5–63.0)

1997

70.5

(69.6–71.3)

57.0

(56.0–57.9)

63.4

(62.7–64.1)

Drinking Levels

 

 

 

 

 

 

Abstainer

 

 

 

 

 

 

2006

32.4

(31.2–33.7)

45.5

(44.2–46.8)

39.2

(38.2–40.2)

2005

32.2

(31.1–33.2)

44.6

(43.5–45.6)

38.6

(37.8–39.5)

2004

32.4

(31.3–33.5)

45.4

(44.3–46.4)

39.2

(38.3–40.0)

2003

32.4

(31.4–33.4)

44.9

(43.8–46.1)

38.9

(38.1–39.8)

2002

30.0

(28.9–31.1)

43.8

(42.8–44.8)

37.2

(36.4–38.0)

2001

30.7

(29.8–31.6)

43.4

(42.5–44.4)

37.3

(36.6–38.0)

2000

31.8

(30.8–32.8)

44.4

(43.3–45.4)

38.3

(37.5–39.2)

1999

30.0

(29.0–31.1)

43.9

(42.8–44.9)

37.3

(36.5–38.1)

1998

30.7

(29.7–31.7)

44.2

(43.3–45.2)

37.7

(37.0–38.5)

1997

29.5

(28.7–30.4)

43.0

(42.1–44.0)

36.6

(35.9–37.3)

Light drinker

 

 

 

 

 

 

2006

40.0

(38.8–41.2)

42.5

(41.3–43.6)

41.3

(40.4–42.2)

2005

39.8

(38.9–40.8)

44.1

(43.1–45.1)

42.0

(41.3–42.7)

2004

41.3

(40.4–42.3)

43.7

(42.8–44.7)

42.6

(41.8–43.3)

2003

40.4

(39.4–41.3)

43.8

(42.7–44.8)

42.1

(41.4–42.9)

2002

41.7

(40.7–42.7)

45.1

(44.1–46.1)

43.5

(42.7–44.2)

2001

41.5

(40.6–42.4)

45.4

(44.5–46.2)

43.5

(42.9–44.2)

2000

42.0

(41.1–43.0)

46.0

(45.0–47.0)

44.1

(43.4–44.8)

1999

42.0

(40.9–43.0)

45.5

(44.6–46.5)

43.8

(43.1–44.5)

1998

41.8

(40.9–42.8)

45.6

(44.6–46.5)

43.8

(43.1–44.5)

1997

42.6

(41.7–43.5)

46.6

(45.7–47.4)

44.7

(44.0–45.3)

Moderate drinker

 

 

 

 

 

 

2006

22.0

(21.0–23.1)

7.5

(7.0–8.1)

14.5

(13.9–15.1)

2005

22.4

(21.5–23.2)

7.2

(6.7–7.7)

14.5

(14.0–15.0)

2004

21.1

(20.2–22.0)

7.3

(6.8–7.8)

13.9

(13.3–14.4)

2003

21.6

(20.8–22.5)

7.3

(6.9–7.8)

14.2

(13.7–14.6)

2002

22.4

(21.5–23.3)

6.9

(6.5–7.4)

14.4

(13.8–14.9)

2001

22.1

(21.3–22.8)

7.2

(6.7–7.6)

14.3

(13.8–14.8)

2000

21.1

(20.2–21.9)

6.2

(5.7–6.5)

13.3

(12.8–13.8)

1999

22.1

(21.2–23.0)

6.9

(6.5–7.3)

14.1

(13.6–14.7)

1998

22.0

(21.2–22.7)

6.6

(6.2–7.0)

14.0

(13.5–14.4)

1997

21.8

(21.0–22.6)

6.6

(6.2–7.0)

13.9

(13.4–14.4)

Heavier drinker

 

 

 

 

 

 

2006

5.5

(4.9–6.1)

4.6

(4.1–5.0)

5.0

(4.6–5.4)

2005

5.6

(5.2–6.1)

4.1

(3.8–4.5)

4.8

(4.6–5.1)

2004

5.2

(4.8–5.7)

3.6

(3.3–4.0)

4.4

(4.1–4.7)

2003

5.6

(5.1–6.1)

4.0

(3.6–4.3)

4.8

(4.5–5.1)

2002

5.9

(5.4–6.4)

4.2

(3.8–4.5)

5.0

(4.7–5.3)

2001

5.7

(5.3–6.2)

4.0

(3.7–4.4)

4.8

(4.5–5.1)

2000

5.1

(4.7–5.5)

3.5

(3.2–3.8)

4.3

(4.0–4.5)

1999

6.0

(5.5–6.4)

3.7

(3.3–4.1)

4.8

(4.5–5.1)

1998

5.5

(5.1–5.9)

3.6

(3.3–4.0)

4.5

(4.3–4.8)

1997

6.0

(5.7–6.4)

3.8

(3.5–4.2)

4.9

(4.6–5.1)

Heavy Drinking Days (5+ drinks/day in past year)

 

 

 

 

 

 

Abstainer

 

 

 

 

 

 

2006

32.9

(31.6–34.2)

45.7

(44.4–47.0)

39.6

(38.6–40.6)

2005

32.7

(31.6–33.7)

44.8

(43.8–45.9)

39.0

(38.2–39.9)

2004

32.9

(31.8–34.0)

45.6

(44.5–46.6)

39.5

(38.7–40.4)

2003

32.9

(31.9–33.9)

45.2

(44.0–46.3)

39.3

(38.4–40.2)

2002

30.5

(29.4–31.6)

44.1

(43.1–45.0)

37.6

(36.8–38.4)

2001

31.2

(30.3–32.2)

43.6

(42.7–44.6)

37.7

(37.0–38.4)

2000

32.5

(31.5–33.5)

44.8

(43.7–45.9)

39.0

(38.1–39.8)

1999

30.8

(29.8–31.9)

44.2

(43.2–45.3)

37.9

(37.0–38.7)

1998

31.4

(30.4–32.4)

44.6

(43.6–45.5)

38.3

(37.5–39.1)

1997

30.1

(29.2–31.0)

43.4

(42.4–44.3)

37.0

(36.3–37.7)

Never/none

 

 

 

 

 

 

2006

38.8

(37.6–40.0)

42.0

(40.8–43.2)

40.4

(39.5–41.4)

2005

38.6

(37.5–39.6)

43.4

(42.4–44.4)

41.1

(40.4–41.8)

2004

38.8

(37.7–39.9)

43.0

(42.1–44.0)

41.0

(40.2–41.8)

2003

39.1

(38.1–40.1)

43.5

(42.4–44.5)

41.4

(40.6–42.2)

2002

40.2

(39.2–41.2)

44.3

(43.3–45.3)

42.4

(41.6–43.1)

2001

39.4

(38.4–40.3)

44.6

(43.7–45.5)

42.1

(41.4–42.8)

2000

38.4

(37.4–39.5)

44.5

(43.5–45.6)

41.6

(40.9–42.4)

1999

39.2

(38.2–40.3)

44.0

(43.0–45.0)

41.8

(41.0–42.5)

1998

38.6

(37.6–39.6)

44.0

(43.1–44.9)

41.4

(40.7–42.1)

1997

38.2

(37.3–39.1)

44.5

(43.6–45.5)

41.5

(40.8–42.2)

1–11 days

 

 

 

 

 

 

2006

13.7

(12.9–14.6)

8.2

(7.6–8.8)

10.8

(10.3–11.4)

2005

14.4

(13.7–15.1)

8.1

(7.5–8.6)

11.1

(10.6–11.5)

2004

14.4

(13.6–15.2)

7.9

(7.4–8.4)

11.0

(10.5–11.5)

2003

13.0

(12.4–13.7)

7.7

(7.2–8.3)

10.3

(9.8–10.7)

2002

13.6

(12.9–14.3)

7.5

(7.0–8.0)

10.4

(10.0–10.9)

2001

13.7

(13.0–14.4)

7.9

(7.4–8.4)

10.6

(10.2–11.1)

2000

14.3

(13.5–15.0)

7.3

(6.9–7.8)

10.6

(10.2–11.1)

1999

14.4

(13.7–15.1)

7.6

(7.1–8.1)

10.8

(10.3–11.3)

1998

15.3

(14.6–16.0)

7.9

(7.4–8.4)

11.4

(10.9–11.9)

1997

15.4

(14.6–16.1)

8.3

(7.8–8.8)

11.6

(11.2–12.1)

12+ days

 

 

 

 

 

 

2006

14.6

(13.6–15.5)

4.1

(3.7–4.6)

9.1

(8.6–9.7)

2005

14.4

(13.6–15.1)

3.7

(3.4–4.1)

8.8

(8.4–9.2)

2004

13.9

(13.1–14.7)

3.5

(3.2–3.8)

8.4

(8.0–8.9)

2003

14.9

(14.1–15.7)

3.6

(3.3–4.0)

9.0

(8.6–9.4)

2002

15.7

(14.9–16.6)

4.1

(3.7–4.5)

9.6

(9.2–10.1)

2001

15.7

(15.0–16.4)

3.9

(3.6–4.3)

9.5

(9.1–9.9)

2000

14.8

(14.1–15.5)

3.4

(3.1–3.7)

8.8

(8.4–9.2)

1999

15.6

(14.8–16.4)

4.2

(3.8–4.6)

9.6

(9.1–10.0)

1998

14.7

(14.0–15.4)

3.6

(3.2–3.9)

8.9

(8.5–9.3)

1997

16.3

(15.6–17.0)

3.9

(3.5–4.2)

9.8

(9.4–10.2)

Estimates calculated by the Alcohol Epidemiologic Data System of the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism, December 2007.

Definitions:

Lifetime abstainer: fewer than 12 drinks in lifetime.

Former drinker: no drinks in the past year.

Current drinker: one or more drinks in the past year.

Abstainer: fewer than 12 drinks in lifetime or no drinks in the past year.

Light drinker: on average, 3 or fewer drinks per week in the past year.

Moderate drinker: on average, more than 3 drinks but no more than 7 drinks per week for women and no more than 14 drinks per week for men in the past year.

Heavier drinker: on average, more than one drink per day for women and more than two drinks per day for men in the past year.

CI indicates confidence interval.

Sources: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), National Center for Health Statistics, National Health Interview Survey, 1997–2006. Data from the CDC ftp site (ftp://ftp.cdc.gov/pub/Health_Statistics/NCHS/Datasets/NHIS).

Whats New

Feature of the Month

 


NIAAA Sponsored Sites

N I H logo
H H S logo
USA.gov - Government Made Easy