title: Changes in alcohol consumption with age.
abstract: We report the results of an analysis of alcohol consumption data collected in a telephone survey of all adults in a sample of households in metropolitan St. John's in 1985. Regression analyses showed that the age-related decline in total alcohol consumption is a result of changes in the amount of alcohol consumed per drinking occasion rather than a decrease in the number of drinking occasions. Increased education is associated with increased drinking occasions, but decreased consumption per occasion. A large part of the gender difference in comparison can be explained by the fact that males are larger and have a larger percent body water, although differences in body composition cannot explain age-related changes in consumption. Health and happiness were not related to alcohol consumption.
authors.affiliation: Gerontology Centre, Memorial University of Newfoundland, St. John's, Canada.
authors.forename: W A
authors.initials: WA
authors.lastname: McKim
authors.forename: L T
authors.initials: LT
authors.lastname: Quinlan
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D000428:Alcohol Drinking / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000523:psychology; D001823:Body Composition; D001834:Body Water; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012044:Regression Analysis; D012737:Sex Factors; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires