Trends in Prinking Problems and Attitudes in the United States: 1979–1984

Summary Changes in the prevalence of drinking problems and in attitudes toward the acceptibility of drinking are examined using U.S. general population survey data from 1979 and 1984. Increases in the prevalence of dependence were found for men but not for women. There were no significant differences in the prevalence of drinking‐related consequences for either sex. Attitudes have changed, becoming less permissive toward alcohol use. This change is concentrated among younger respondents. Results are interpreted with reference to competing theoretical expectations, one holding that problem and attitude levels rise and fall in direct response to changes in aggregate consumption and the other positing a somewhat more complex dialectic of interactions between levels of consumption, problems, and attitudes.