title: Predictors of and reasons for attempts to reduce alcohol intake: A population survey of adults in England.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  This study aimed to assess the predictors among high-risk drinkers in England of attempts to reduce alcohol consumption, the reasons given for these attempts and the association between the various reasons and alcohol consumption.
  
  
  METHODS
  Data came from 2,800 high-risk drinkers taking part in the Alcohol Toolkit Study (ATS) between March 2014 and November 2016 who were attempting to reduce their alcohol consumption. Participants completed the Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test (AUDIT) and were asked questions regarding their socio-demographic characteristics, attempts to cut down and reasons for doing so.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Those cutting down were significantly older (OR 1.01, p<0.001), were more likely to be female (OR 1.32, p<0.05), had higher AUDIT-C scores (OR 1.12, p<0. 001), were less likely to be of white ethnicity (OR 0.64, p<0. 001), and were more likely to reside in the South of England (OR 1.34, p<0. 001). They were also more likely to be of higher occupationally-based social-grades (p<0. 001). The main reported reasons for reducing consumption were: fitness (22.5%), weight loss (20.4%), future health (20.4%), advice from a health-care professional (7.9%) and cost (7.6%). Those reporting the followings reasons for cutting down had higher AUDIT-C scores than those who did not report these reasons: a concern about further health problems (β 0.20, p<0.05), advice from a doctor/health worker (β 0.38, p<0.05), that drinking was too expensive (β 0.42, p<0.01) and detoxification (β 0.42, p<0.01). Lower AUDIT-C scores were noted among those who reported that they knew someone who was cutting down (β -0.67, p<0.05), that there was no reason (β -0.36, p<0.05), or they didn't know why they were cutting down (β -0.25, p<0.05).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Around a fifth of high-risk drinkers in England report trying to reduce their drinking, particularly older, high-socioeconomic female drinkers from the south of England. Attempts to cut down appear to be driven by a desire to improve health, advice from others and cutting down on the cost of drinking.
authors.affiliation: Research Department of Clinical, Educational and Health Psychology, University College London, London, England.|Department of Epidemiology and Public Health, University College London, London, England.
authors.forename: Emma
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Beard
authors.affiliation: Research Department of Clinical, Educational and Health Psychology, University College London, London, England.|Department of Epidemiology and Public Health, University College London, London, England.
authors.forename: Jamie
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Brown
authors.affiliation: Institute of Health & Society, Newcastle University, Newcastle, England.
authors.forename: Eileen
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Kaner
authors.affiliation: Department of Epidemiology and Public Health, University College London, London, England.
authors.forename: Robert
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: West
authors.affiliation: Research Department of Clinical, Educational and Health Psychology, University College London, London, England.
authors.forename: Susan
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Michie
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000428:Alcohol Drinking / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000523:psychology*; D004739:England / Q000453:epidemiology; D005260:Female; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires