Patterns of drinking in the UK Armed Forces.
OBJECTIVE
To examine patterns of drinking in the UK Armed Forces, how they vary according to gender and other demographics, and to make comparisons with the general population.


METHODS
Large cross-sectional postal questionnaire study (response rate 60%).


METHODS
United Kingdom.


METHODS
A random representative sample of the regular UK Armed Forces who were in service in March 2003 (n = 8686; 7937 men, 749 women). Comparisons were made with the general population of Great Britain.


METHODS
Alcohol consumption was assessed using the Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test (AUDIT).


RESULTS
Sixty-seven per cent of men and 49% of women in the UK Armed Forces had an AUDIT score of 8+ (defined as hazardous drinking), compared to 38% of men and 16% of women in the general population. In both sexes, for all ages, the military have a higher prevalence of hazardous drinking. Binge drinking was associated with being younger, being in the Army, being single, being a smoker and being white. Among military men, heavy drinking (AUDIT score 16+) was associated with holding a lower rank, being younger, being single, being in the Naval Service or Army, being deployed to Iraq, not having children, being a smoker, having a combat role and having a parent with a drink or drug problem.


CONCLUSIONS
Excessive alcohol consumption is more common in the UK Armed Forces than in the general population. There are certain socio-demographic characteristics associated with heavy drinking within the military; for example, young age, being single and being a smoker, which may allow the targeting of preventive interventions.
Fear
Nicola T
NT
Academic Centre for Defence Mental Health, King's College London, London, UK. nicola.fear@iop.kcl.ac.uk
Iversen
Amy
A
Meltzer
Howard
H
Workman
Lorna
L
Hull
Lisa
L
Greenberg
Neil
N
Barker
Christopher
C
Browne
Tess
T
Earnshaw
Mark
M
Horn
Oded
O
Jones
Margaret
M
Murphy
Dominic
D
Rona
Roberto J
RJ
Hotopf
Matthew
M
Wessely
Simon
S
D000328:Adult; D000428:Alcohol Drinking / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000523:psychology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D008889:Military Personnel / Q000523:psychology*; D011594:Psychometrics / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D017678:Sex Distribution; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D006113:United Kingdom