title: Temporal patterns of alcohol consumption and attempts to reduce alcohol intake in England.
abstract: The Alcohol Toolkit Study (ATS) is a monthly survey of approximately 1700 adults per month aged 16 years of age or more in England. We aimed to explore patterns of alcohol consumption and motivation to reduce alcohol use in England throughout the year.
  
  
  
  Data from 38,372 participants who answered questions about alcohol consumption (March 2014 to January 2016) were analysed using weighted regression using the R survey package. Questions assessed alcohol consumption (AUDIT-C) and attempts to reduce consumption.
  
  
  
  Sixty-seven percent of participants reported using alcohol, with a small negative trend of about 2 % reduction over 12 months in the studied period (P < 0.01). These include ~25 % higher risk drinkers and ~10 % regular binge drinkers. About 20 % of higher risk drinkers indicated they were attempting to reduce their alcohol consumption. Attempts were lowest in December (-20 %; 95 % CI 0-35 %), but increases significantly in January (+41 %; 95 % CI 16-73 %) compared with other months (P < 0.001), indicating a small net gain; at least in attempts to reduce. However, there was no evidence that the increased motivation in January was accompanied by a reported decrease in consumption or binge drinking events. This could be an artefact of the use of AUDIT questions, but could also reflect a disconnect between attempting to reduce alcohol consumption and subsequent change; maybe as a result of lack of continuing support.
  
  
  
  January is associated with moderate increased attempts to reduce alcohol consumption. However, we find little evidence of a change in alcohol consumption. In part, this may be due to temporal insensitivity of the AUDIT questions.
authors: NIHR School for Public Health Research, Bristol, United Kingdom. frank.devocht@bristol.ac.uk.|School of Social and Community Medicine, University of Bristol, Canynge Hall, 39 Whatley Road, Bristol, BS8 2PS, UK. frank.devocht@bristol.ac.uk.
authors: Frank
authors: 0000-0003-3631-627X
authors: F
authors: de Vocht
authors: NIHR School for Public Health Research, Bristol, United Kingdom.|Department of Clinical, Educational and Health Psychology, University College London, London, UK.
authors: Jamie
authors: J
authors: Brown
authors: NIHR School for Public Health Research, Bristol, United Kingdom.|Department of Clinical, Educational and Health Psychology, University College London, London, UK.
authors: Emma
authors: E
authors: Beard
authors: NIHR School for Public Health Research, Bristol, United Kingdom.|ScHARR, School of Health and Related Research, University of Sheffield, Sheffield, UK.
authors: Colin
authors: C
authors: Angus
authors: NIHR School for Public Health Research, Bristol, United Kingdom.|ScHARR, School of Health and Related Research, University of Sheffield, Sheffield, UK.
authors: Alan
authors: A
authors: Brennan
authors: NIHR School for Public Health Research, Bristol, United Kingdom.|Department of Clinical, Educational and Health Psychology, University College London, London, UK.
authors: Susan
authors: S
authors: Michie
authors: NIHR School for Public Health Research, Bristol, United Kingdom.|School of Social and Community Medicine, University of Bristol, Canynge Hall, 39 Whatley Road, Bristol, BS8 2PS, UK.
authors: Rona
authors: R
authors: Campbell
authors: NIHR School for Public Health Research, Bristol, United Kingdom.|School of Social and Community Medicine, University of Bristol, Canynge Hall, 39 Whatley Road, Bristol, BS8 2PS, UK.
authors: Matthew
authors: M
authors: Hickman
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000428:Alcohol Drinking / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000517:prevention & control* / Q000523:psychology*; D000435:Alcoholic Intoxication / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000517:prevention & control* / Q000523:psychology*; D004739:England / Q000453:epidemiology; D005260:Female; D006306:Health Surveys; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012044:Regression Analysis; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D013997:Time Factors; D055815:Young Adult