The influence of drinking pattern, at individual and aggregate levels, on alcohol-related negative consequences.
OBJECTIVE
To determine the extent drinking patterns (at the individual and country level) are associated with alcohol-related consequences over and above the total alcohol the person consumes.


METHODS
Hierarchical linear models were estimated based on general population surveys conducted in 18 countries participating in the GENACIS project.


RESULTS
In general, the positive association between drinking pattern scores and alcohol-related consequences was found at both the individual and country levels, independent of volume of drinking. In addition, a significant interaction effect indicated that the more detrimental the country's drinking pattern, the less steep the association between the volume of drinking and its consequences.


CONCLUSIONS
Drinking patterns have an independent impact on consequences over and above the relationship between volume and consequences.
Astudillo
M
M
Swiss Institute for the Prevention of Alcohol and Drug Problems, Lausanne, Switzerland. mastudillo@sfa-ispa.ch
Kuntsche
S
S
Graham
K
K
Gmel
G
G
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000378:Agonistic Behavior / Q000187:drug effects*; D000428:Alcohol Drinking / Q000009:adverse effects*; D019973:Alcohol-Related Disorders / Q000150:complications* / Q000175:diagnosis; D005260:Female; D006306:Health Surveys; D006801:Humans; D038622:Internationality; D016014:Linear Models; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D018570:Risk Assessment / Q000379:methods; D012737:Sex Factors; D014947:Wounds and Injuries / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000150:complications*