Trends in U.S. Drinking Patterns: further evidence from the past 20 years

Summary 1984 U.S. survey data on alcohol consumption are compared to similar data from a 1964 survey and to a series of surveys taken between 1971 and 1981. This creates a wider set of trend comparisons than was available in a previous analysis, but does so at the cost of compromising comparability. Although most results indicate stability in drinking patterns, some results suggest that the prevalence of heavy drinking has increased among men. Among men and women, increases are more apparent among those aged 21‐34years than among other age groups.