Beverage preferences and associated drinking patterns, consequences and other substance use behaviours.
BACKGROUND
Studies about beverage preferences in a country in which wine drinking is relatively widespread (like Switzerland) are scarce. Therefore, the main aims of the present study were to examine the associations between beverage preferences and drinking patterns, alcohol-related consequences and the use of other substances among Swiss young men.


METHODS
The analytical sample consisted of 5399 Swiss men who participated in the Cohort Study on Substance Use Risk Factors (C-SURF) and had been drinking alcohol over the preceding 12 months. Logistic regression analyses were conducted to study the associations between preference for a particular beverage and (i) drinking patterns, (ii) negative alcohol-related consequences and (iii) the (at-risk) use of cigarettes, cannabis and other illicit drugs.


RESULTS
Preference for beer was associated with risky drinking patterns and, comparable with a preference for strong alcohol, with the use of illicit substances (cannabis and other illicit drugs). In contrast, a preference for wine was associated with low-risk alcohol consumption and a reduced likelihood of experiencing at least four negative alcohol-related consequences or of daily cigarette smoking. Furthermore, the likelihood of negative outcomes (alcohol-related consequences; use of other substances) increased among people with risky drinking behaviours, independent of beverage preference.


CONCLUSIONS
In our survey, beer preference was associated with risky drinking patterns and illicit drug use. Alcohol polices to prevent large quantities of alcohol consumption, especially of cheaper spirits like beer, should be considered to reduce total alcohol consumption and the negative consequences associated with these beverage types.
1 Institute of Social and Preventive Medicine, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland michelle.dey@uzh.ch.
Michelle
M
Dey
2 Alcohol Treatment Centre, Lausanne University Hospital CHUV, Lausanne, Switzerland.
Gerhard
G
Gmel
2 Alcohol Treatment Centre, Lausanne University Hospital CHUV, Lausanne, Switzerland.
Joseph
J
Studer
1 Institute of Social and Preventive Medicine, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland.
Petra
P
Dermota
1 Institute of Social and Preventive Medicine, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland.
Meichun
M
Mohler-Kuo
D000293:Adolescent; D000428:Alcohol Drinking / Q000453:epidemiology; D000434:Alcoholic Beverages; D015331:Cohort Studies; D003258:Consumer Behavior; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D016015:Logistic Models; D008297:Male; D012309:Risk-Taking; D012907:Smoking / Q000453:epidemiology; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D019966:Substance-Related Disorders / Q000453:epidemiology*; D013557:Switzerland; D055815:Young Adult