Social characteristics of urban cafe guests in Norway

Which factors may influence the number of hours spent per week in cafes, and the amount of alcohol consumed in licensed premises, by urban cafe guests in Norway? In 1991 a comprehensive questionnaire survey was undertaken among 1053 visitors to 41 licensed cafes in Oslo, Norway. The five most important predictors of time spent in cafes were: household situation (β=0.20), occupation (β= 0.18), personal economic resources and sex (both β= 0.15) and age (β= 0.11). These factors were also significant predictors of the number of days during the past 4 weeks the respondents had drunk jour glasses or more of alcohol in cafes. Men, people living with others, people with poor economic resources and people not engaged in paid employment or education were the ones who reported spending the most hours per week and the most episodes of “heavy” drinking in cafes during a 4-week period. Visiting and drinking in cafes may be a way of structuring everyday life.