There were nearly 20,000 alcohol-induced deaths in 2001, the
last year for which data are available from the National Center for
Health Statistics. And these numbers do not include deaths
resulting from unintentional injuries or homicides, many of which
may indirectly be related to alcohol use. Alcohol consumption is
clearly a major health risk factor.
Aggregated data from three Gallup Consumption Habits polls
conducted between July 2002 and July 2004* provide some insight
into which Americans drink, how much they drink and whether they
think they overindulge, and if alcohol has ever caused problems in
their families.
Who Drinks?
According to the aggregated data, 63% of Americans report that
they drink alcoholic beverages such as liquor, wine, or beer, while
37% totally abstain. Men are more likely than women to drink (69%
vs. 58%), and adults under 50 are substantially more likely than
adults over 50 to drink (70% of adults aged 18 to 49 drink
alcoholic beverages, as do only 54% of those over 50).
Drinking Frequency
Occasional drinking does not necessarily indicate a drinking
problem, but even small amounts of alcohol can cause slurred
speech, slowed reaction times, or impaired judgment. The Centers
for Disease Control and Prevention defines "excessive drinking" as
an average of more than one drink per day for women, and an average
of more than two drinks per day for men.
So how much do American drinkers drink? According to the Gallup
data, the mean number of drinks that male drinkers consume in a
week is 6.6 (about one per day), compared with 2.9 for female
drinkers (less than half a drink per day). Seven percent of female
drinkers report having eight or more drinks in the past seven days
-- the CDC standard for "excessive drinking" among women.
Twenty-one percent of male drinkers report consuming 10 or more
drinks in the last seven days, including 9% who said they drank 20
or more -- well over the "excessive drinking" limit for men.
Self-Assessments of Excessive Drinking
Objective measures of how many drinks one has in a week can only
go so far in defining problems with alcohol. Regardless of how much
a person drinks, alcohol consumption is a problem if it negatively
affects the way the person thinks, feels, or interacts with
others.
Gallup asked the respondents themselves if they ever drink more
alcohol than they should. Nearly a quarter (23%) of drinkers said
they sometimes drink more than they should. Again, men outnumber
women in this response, and younger drinkers are far more likely
than older drinkers to say they drink too much.
Drinking as a Problem in the Family
Alcohol problems affect not only the individuals who drink, but
also those around them. Nearly a third (32%) of Americans say that
drinking has been a cause of trouble in their families.
Interestingly, women (who are less likely than men to drink and to
report drinking too much) are slightly more likely than men to
report that drinking has been a problem in their families (35%
compared with 29%).
Bottom Line
Anyone who watches football on Sunday afternoons can see that
alcohol, especially beer, is marketed most heavily to men and the
under-50 crowd -- the groups that drink the most. And while men are
much more likely to drink alcohol and admit to overindulging, the
data show women are more likely to see it as a problem for their
families.
*Results are based on telephone interviews with 3,016
national adults, aged 18 and older, conducted in July 2002, July
2003, and July 2004.
For results based on the sample of 1,444 men and 1,571
women, the maximum margin of sampling error is ±3 percentage
points.
For results based on the sample of 428 adults, aged 18 to
29, the maximum margin of sampling error is ±5 percentage
points. For results based on the sample of 1,179 adults, aged 30 to
49, the maximum margin of sampling error is ±3 percentage
points. For results based on the sample of 814 adults, aged 50 to
64, the maximum margin of sampling error is ±4 percentage
points. For results based on the sample of 568 adults, aged 65 and
older, the maximum margin of sampling error is ±4 percentage
points.
For results based on the sample of 1,908 U.S. adults who
drink, the maximum margin of sampling error is ±2 percentage
points.
For results based on the sample of 991 men and 917 women who
drink, the maximum margin of sampling error is ±3 percentage
points.
For results based on the sample of 385 adults, aged 18 to 29
who drink, the maximum margin of sampling error is ±5
percentage points. For results based on the sample of 873 adults,
aged 30 to 49 who drink, the maximum margin of sampling error is
±3 percentage points. For results based on the sample of 417
adults, aged 50 to 64 who drink, the maximum margin of sampling
error is ±5 percentage points. For results based on the
sample of 224 adults, aged 65 and older, the maximum margin of
sampling error is ±7 percentage points.
