title: Drinker Types, Harm, and Policy-Related Variables: Results from the 2011 International Alcohol Control Study in New Zealand.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The aim was to identify a typology of drinkers in New Zealand based on alcohol consumption, beverage choice, and public versus private drinking locations and investigate the relationship between drinker types, harms experienced, and policy-related variables.
  
  
  METHODS
  Model-based cluster analysis of male and female drinkers including volumes of alcohol consumed in the form of beer, wine, spirits, and ready-to-drinks (RTDs) in off- and on-premise settings. Cluster membership was then related to harm measures: alcohol dependence, self-rated health; and to 3 policy-relevant variables: liking for alcohol adverts, price paid for alcohol, and time of purchase.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Males and females were analyzed separately. Men fell into 4 and women into 14 clearly discriminated clusters. The male clusters consumed a relatively high proportion of alcohol in the form of beer. Women had a number of small extreme clusters and some consumed mainly spirits-based RTDs, while others drank mainly wine. Those in the higher consuming clusters were more likely to have signs of alcohol dependency, to report lower satisfaction with their health, to like alcohol ads, and to have purchased late at night.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Consumption patterns are sufficiently distinctive to identify typologies of male and female alcohol consumers. Women drinkers are more heterogeneous than men. The clusters relate differently to policy-related variables.
authors.affiliation: SHORE & Whariki Research Centre, College of Health, Massey University, Auckland, New Zealand.
authors.forename: Martin
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Wall
authors.affiliation: SHORE & Whariki Research Centre, College of Health, Massey University, Auckland, New Zealand.
authors.forename: Sally
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Casswell
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000428:Alcohol Drinking / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000639:trends; D000434:Alcoholic Beverages; D000437:Alcoholism / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000517:prevention & control; D016000:Cluster Analysis; D005260:Female; D006291:Health Policy / Q000639:trends; D006801:Humans; D038622:Internationality; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009520:New Zealand / Q000453:epidemiology; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: Alcohol; Cluster Analysis; Harms; Male and Female Drinker Types; Policy Variables