Alcohol Consumption

Alcohol consumption is measured differently in various data systems.

Monitoring the Future Study
This school-based survey of secondary school students collects information on alcohol use using self-completed questionnaires. Information on consumption of alcoholic beverages, defined as beer, wine, wine coolers, and liquor, is based on the following question:

"On how many occasions (if any) have you had alcohol to drink--more than just a few sips--in the last 30 days?" 

Students responding affirmatively are then asked, "How many times have you had five or more drinks in a row in the last two weeks?" For this question, a "drink" means a 12-ounce can (or bottle) of beer, a 4-ounce glass of wine, a 12-ounce bottle (or can) of wine cooler, or a mixed drink or shot of liquor.

National Health Interview Survey (NHIS)
Starting with the 1997 NHIS, information on alcohol consumption is collected in the sample adult questionnaire. Adult respondents are asked two screening questions about lifetime alcohol consumption:

"In any one year, have you had at least 12 drinks of any type of alcoholic beverage?"

"In your entire life, have you had at least 12 drinks of any type of alcoholic beverage?"
Persons who report at least 12 drinks in a lifetime are then asked a series of questions about alcohol consumption in the past year:

"In the past year, how often did you drink any type of alcoholic beverage?"

"In the past year, on those days that you drank alcoholic beverages, on the average, how many drinks did you have?"

"In the past year, on how many days did you have 5 or more drinks of any alcoholic beverage?"

National Household Survey on Drug Abuse (NHSDA)
Starting in 1999, NHSDA information about the frequency of the consumption of alcoholic beverages in the past 30 days was obtained for all persons 12 years of age and over. An extensive list of examples of the kinds of beverages covered was given to respondents prior to the question administration. A "drink" is defined as a can or bottle of beer, a glass of wine or a wine cooler, a shot of liquor, or a mixed drink with liquor in it. Those times when the respondent had only a sip or two from a drink are not considered consumption. Alcohol use is based on the following questions:

"During the past 30 days, on how many days did you drink one or more drinks of an alcoholic beverage?"

"On the days that you drank during the past 30 days, how many drinks did you usually have?"

"During the past 30 days, on how many days did you have 5 or more drinks on the same occasion?"

SOURCE: Health, United States

Related Links
Alcohol Use FASTATS

This page last reviewed January 11, 2007