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Alcohol and Alcoholism Advance Access published online on June 6, 2005
Alcohol and Alcoholism, doi:10.1093/alcalc/agh169
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© The Author 2005. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of the Medical Council on Alcohol. All rights reserved
Received September 20, 2004
Accepted December 16, 2004

Article

SPREADING OUT OR CONCENTRATING WEEKLY CONSUMPTION: ALCOHOL PROBLEMS AND OTHER CONSEQUENCES WITHIN A UK POPULATION SAMPLE

PATRICK MILLER 1*, MOIRA PLANT 1, and MARTIN PLANT 1

1 Alcohol and Health Research Trust, Centre for Research in Public Health and Primary Care Development, University of the West of England, Glenside Campus, Blackberry Hill, Stapleton, Bristol BS16 1DD, UK

* To whom correspondence should be addressed.
PATRICK MILLER, E-mail: pm011g5446{at}blueyonder.co.uk


  Abstract

Aims: To consider the consequences, within a UK population sample, of consuming a given amount of alcohol weekly in one or two sessions as against spreading it out over several sessions. Methods: A new analysis of data from the UK components of the GENACIS survey of adults aged ≥18, was carried out. Results: At low levels of weekly alcohol consumption those subjects whose usual drinking frequency was several times per week (‘spreaders’), if anything, reported more alcohol problems than those who consumed alcohol only once or twice per week (‘bingers’). As weekly consumption increased above ~11 units per week ‘bingers’ began to experience more problems than ‘spreaders’. At the highest levels of consumption ‘bingers’ reported more positive experiences from drinking than did ‘spreaders’. Subjects >54 years showed lower levels of weekly alcohol consumption than other subjects, and relationships between problems, drinking level, and drinking pattern were less in evidence. Females drank less alcohol and experienced fewer alcohol-related problems than did their male counterparts. However, at high-consumption levels, female ‘bingers’ experienced fewer problems than male ‘bingers’. Conclusions: For most but not all the variables studied, both drinking level and drinking pattern are important determinants of problems experienced. Binge drinking for people who drink more than ~11 units per week is an obvious target for harm minimization.


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