title: The distribution of alcohol consumption and the prevention paradox in Brazil.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To examine the proportion of self-reported alcohol consumed by different gender and age groups in Brazil over the past year, and to examine whether the 'prevention paradox' applies to Brazilian data on alcohol-related problems.
  
  
  METHODS
  A multi-stage cluster sample, representative of the Brazilian household population.
  
  
  METHODS
  This study was conducted in Brazil between November 2005 and April 2006.
  
  
  METHODS
  Respondents were aged ≥ 14 years (n = 3007).
  
  
  METHODS
  Measures included past year estimates of (i) number of standard drinks, (ii) frequency of binge drinking, and (iii) alcohol-related problems.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The survey response rate was 66.4%. The top 2.5% of the drinkers by volume consume 14.9%, the top 5% consume 27.4% and the top 10% consume 44.2% of all alcohol consumed in Brazil. Men consume 77.8% of the total alcohol, and 18-29-year-olds consume 40.3%. Individuals below risky drinking guidelines for weekly volumetric intake account for 49-50% of all problem drinkers and 45-47% of all problem types reported. Individuals who do not binge or who binge infrequently (1-3 times/year) account for 50-51% of all problem drinkers and 45-46% of all reported problem types. Most binge drinkers are low-volume drinkers.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Consistent with the prevention paradox literature, most drinking problems in Brazil are associated with low or moderate drinking. Binge drinking accounts more clearly for the distribution of alcohol problems than total volume consumed.
authors.affiliation: University of Texas School of Public Health, Dallas Regional Campus, Dallas, TX, USA.
authors.forename: Raul
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Caetano
authors.forename: Britain
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Mills
authors.forename: Ilana
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Pinsky
authors.forename: Marcos
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Zaleski
authors.forename: Ronaldo
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Laranjeira
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000428:Alcohol Drinking / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000517:prevention & control; D019973:Alcohol-Related Disorders / Q000453:epidemiology*; D000434:Alcoholic Beverages / Q000191:economics* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D000435:Alcoholic Intoxication / Q000453:epidemiology; D001938:Brazil / Q000453:epidemiology; D002492:Central Nervous System Depressants / Q000506:poisoning; D016000:Cluster Analysis; D000431:Ethanol / Q000506:poisoning; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011640:Public Policy; D057566:Self Report; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D002492:Central Nervous System Depressants; D000431:Ethanol