A prospective study of the association between smoking and later alcohol drinking in the general population.
OBJECTIVE
To address the possible prospective association between smoking habits and risk of later heavy drinking in the adult population.


METHODS
Pooled population-based long-term cohort studies with repeated assessments of smoking and alcohol habits.


METHODS
Copenhagen, Denmark.


METHODS
A total of 14,130 non- to moderate drinkers at baseline, who attended re-examination.


METHODS
Among the non- to moderate drinkers we addressed the relation between smoking habits at first examination and the risk of becoming a heavy and excessive drinker at follow-up.


RESULTS
Level of tobacco consumption at first examination predicted an increased risk of becoming a heavy and excessive drinker in a dose-dependent manner. Men who smoked more than 25 g of tobacco per day had adjusted odds ratios of 2.12 (95% confidence interval (CI): 1.44-3.11) and 3.95 (95% CI: 1.93-8.95) for becoming heavy and excessive drinkers, compared to participants who had never smoked. Equivalent estimates among women were 1.76 (95% CI: 1.02-3.04) and 2.21 (95% CI: 1.00-4.58), respectively.


CONCLUSIONS
This study suggests that tobacco use is associated quantitatively with later risk of heavier drinking.
Jensen
Majken K
MK
Copenhagen Centre for Prospective Population Studies, Danish Epidemiology Science Centre at the Institute of Preventive Medicine, Copenhagen University Hospital, Copenhagen, Denmark.
Sørensen
Thorkild I A
TI
Andersen
Anne T
AT
Thorsen
Thorkil
T
Tolstrup
Janne S
JS
Godtfredsen
Nina S
NS
Grønbaek
Morten
M
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000428:Alcohol Drinking / Q000453:epidemiology; D000437:Alcoholism / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology*; D016001:Confidence Intervals; D003718:Denmark / Q000453:epidemiology; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D016015:Logistic Models; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D016017:Odds Ratio; D011446:Prospective Studies; D018570:Risk Assessment; D012307:Risk Factors; D012737:Sex Factors; D012907:Smoking / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000453:epidemiology