title: Age, period and cohort analysis of light and binge drinking in Finland, 1968-2008.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To analyse the effects of age, period and cohort (APC) on light and binge drinking in the general population of Finland over the past 40 years.
  
  
  METHODS
  All analyses were based on six Drinking Habits Surveys between 1968 and 2008 of representative samples of the Finnish population aged between 15 and 69 (n = 16,400). The number of drinking occasions per year involving 1-2 drinks (light) and 4+ or 6+ drinks (binges) was used as a dependent variable in APC modelling. Descriptive cohort profiles and negative binomial models were used to assess the effects of APC.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Descriptive cohort profiles differed for light and binge drinking. No substantial differences were found across cohort profiles for light drinking, while APC modelling predicted declining cohort and increasing period effects. Differences between cohorts were found for binge drinking, with predictions of slightly declining or increasing period and increasing cohort effects.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Light drinking has increased over time for each cohort, with no substantial differences between cohort profiles. Binge drinking has increased with more recent cohorts and there are distinct differences between cohort profiles, especially among women.
authors.affiliation: The Finnish Foundation for Alcohol Studies, PO Box 30, FI-00271 Helsinki, Finland. janne.harkonen@helsinki.fi
authors.forename: Janne T
authors.initials: JT
authors.lastname: Härkönen
authors.forename: Pia
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Mäkelä
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D000428:Alcohol Drinking / Q000453:epidemiology*; D000435:Alcoholic Intoxication / Q000453:epidemiology*; D002492:Central Nervous System Depressants / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000494:pharmacology; D015331:Cohort Studies; D003625:Data Collection; D000431:Ethanol / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000494:pharmacology; D005260:Female; D005387:Finland / Q000453:epidemiology; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012737:Sex Factors; D013997:Time Factors; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D002492:Central Nervous System Depressants; D000431:Ethanol