Patterns of alcohol consumption: beverage effects on gender differences

This Data Note reports findings from 22 102 current drinkers who responded in the US National Interview Survey in 1988. Mean estimated alcohol intake of males exceeded that of females by a factor of two. Males drank more per occasion (ratio 1.45) and drank on more occasions (1.41). Mean ethanol content per drink was slightly less for males (ratio 0.95) attributable to a decreased proportion of drinks being wine and liquor. When beverage preferences were taken into account, the drinking patterns of males and females showed no meaningful differences among persons with similar levels of overall ethanol intake. The results do not support the view that the difference between ethanol consumption of males and females are due primarily to males drinking more per occasion. Apparent differences in drinking patterns are attributable to differences in preferred beverage.