GENDER DIFFERENCES IN PATTERNS OF ALCOHOL-CONSUMPTION IN SPAIN

Gender differences in alcohol consumption components, hazardous alcoho l consumption, and drinking patterns among Spaniards were analyzed. Th e study was conducted in the fall of 1992 on 2,500 individuals, aged 1 4-70 years, who lived in the region of Castile and Leon (Spain). Males drank more frequently (with a high intake of alcohol), were more like ly to be hazardous drinkers, and started drinking earlier than females . Both sexes drank beer in a similar way, but not wine and spirits. Ma les and females gave similar reasons for drinking and showed similar p atterns of ''family'' drinking, although sex differences in other patt erns of alcohol consumption were found. The relevance of results was d iscussed.