Alcohol Consumption and Driving in Brazil: A Panel Study of 731,683 Individuals from 2007 to 2022

The aim was to analyze the prevalence of driving in traffic preceded by alcohol abuse, and associated factors, in Brazil in the period between 2007 to 2022. A panel study was carried out based on data from the Surveillance of Risk and Protective Factors for Chronic Diseases by Telephone Survey (VIGITEL). Pearson’s Chi-square test and a Poisson Regression model with robust adjustment for variance were performed. The prevalence of alcohol abuse and driving in the period between 2007 and 2022 was 1.21% (95%CI 1.15 to 1.26). There was an apparent reduction in the prevalence from 2.0% in 2007 to 0.6% in 2022. The risk groups were: male, 40 years old or older, yellow, individuals in a stable union, separated or divorced, higher education, living alone, and residing in the North, Northeast, or Midwest regions. The occurrence of cell phone use and fines for speeding were associated with the outcome. This study showed a reduction in the prevalence of alcohol abuse and driving in the last 15 years. Despite this, it was found that these individuals present more dangerous behavior, such as driving using a cell phone or at high speeds.