A new report released by the Centers for Disease
Control and Prevention’s National Center for Health Statistics,
"Alcohol Use Among Adults: United States, 1997-98," establishes
baseline estimates to track changes in alcohol use in the United States across a
range of demographic factors. This allows alcohol consumption to be
compared to other life style variables such as smoking, physical activity,
and body weight
The report, based on a survey of more than 68,000
adults over a 2-year period, shows alcohol use among U.S. adults varies
according to sex, age, income, education, race, ethnicity, and marital
status.
Highlights of the report include:
Men (69%) were more likely than women (56%) to be
current drinkers (persons who have had at least 12 drinks in their
lifetime and at least one drink in the previous year).
Men (30%) were more likely than women (12%) to have
had at least five drinks in 1 day during the past year and about four
times more likely (15% versus 4%) to have had this amount on at least 12 days in the past year.
Adults aged 25-44 years (71%) were the most likely to
be current drinkers.
Adults 75 years and older were the least likely to be
current drinkers (36%)
White (72%) and Hispanic men (65%) were more likely
than black (57%) or Asian/Pacific Islander men (58%) to be current
drinkers.
White women (62%) were more likely to be current
drinkers than any other group of women (black, 40%; Hispanic, 40%; and
Asian/Pacific Islander, 31%).
About
1 in 5 adults (21%) had five or more
drinks in 1 day during the past year.
For the first time, adults with a General
Educational Development (GED) diploma were considered separately from those
with a traditional high school diploma. GED recipients were more likely
(26%) than any other education group to have had five or more drinks
in 1 day during the past year.
Men (6%) were more likely than women (4%) to be
classified as heavier drinkers.
Cohabiting adults (9%) were more likely to be heavier
drinkers (i.e. more than 14 drinks per week for men or more than seven
drinks per week for women) than married adults (4%).
These data come from the National Health Interview
Survey, an annual, nationally representative household survey of more
than 100,000 people. The report can be found on-line at the CDC web
site.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)
protects people's health and safety by preventing and controlling
diseases and injuries; enhances health decisions by providing credible
information on critical health issues; and promotes healthy living
through strong partnerships with local, national and international
organizations.