Drinkers and Abstainers in Norway; A National Survey

In 1962, 3954 Norwegians (1914 women), aged 18 and over, were interviewed regarding their drinking within the past year. Alcohol of some kind (beer, wine or distilled spirits) was drunk by 79% of the men and 62% of the women. All 3 types of beverage were drunk by most respondents. The drinkers were more often young people of a high income and educational level, living in large communities and communities in which sale and service of alcohol were least restricted by law, and with a minimum of religious and abstaining influences. Growing urbanization was seen as the chief cause of the increased alcohol consumption over the last 20 years. Of 11 variables studied, Degree of Religious Involvement best predicted drinking frequency, followed by Income, Parents' Abstinence and Sex. A “handicap” point system based on these 4 variables showed that drinking increased (abstinence decreased) with an increase of handicap points from 0 (most religious, low-income women with both parents abstainers) to 7 (least religious, high-income men with no abstaining parents). The largest proportion of drinkers was found in Oslo, followed by the East, North and Southwest regions.