Variations by age and sex in alcohol-related problematic behaviour per drinking volume and heavier drinking occasion

Aims

This study aims to assess the relationships between age, sex, drinking behaviour and self-reported alcohol-related problem behaviour.

Design

Cross-sectional population survey.

Setting and participants

Interviews were undertaken in 2004, with a representative sample of Australian residents aged 12 and over (N = 29,445).

Measurements

Alcohol use was measured using graduated frequency questions and, using these questions, estimates of total annual intake and frequency of heavy drinking occasions were derived. Alcohol-related problems were measured using a 10-item scale, relating to behaviour in the 12 months prior to the survey.

Findings

Alcohol-related problem behaviours clustered into two groups: hazardous behaviour and delinquent behaviour. Rates of problem behaviours and drinking followed similar patterns for males and females, with peaks in early adulthood and a subsequent decline with age. Males drank at higher levels than females and behaved more problematically. Once alcohol consumption and drinking pattern were controlled for, male and female rates of problem behaviours were not markedly different. However, there were substantial differences by age, with young people behaving significantly more problematically than older people with the drinking variables controlled for.

Conclusions

The results of this study provide strong evidence that young drinkers behave more problematically than older drinkers with drinking behaviour controlled for. The study also provides further evidence that women and men do not report substantially different rates of alcohol-related problems for similar amounts or patterns of drinking. The study has implications for public health messages that focus on the risk of harm from drinking, clearly demonstrating that young drinkers are more likely to report problems for a given amount of drinking.