Relations among alcohol consumption measures derived from the cognitive lifetime drinking history

Few studies have been conducted of chronic alcohol effects on health and so cial outcomes. To evaluate the utility and feasibility of such studies, cor relations between lifetime and current measures of total alcohol consumptio n (ounces) and times intoxicated were examined to determine whether these d imensions of drinking are distinct, Studies were conducted in 2142 responde nts ages 35 to 70 selected from lists of licensed drivers and individuals e ligible for Medicare. Lifetime measures of alcohol consumption and times in toxicated were derived from the Cognitive Lifetime Drinking History (CLDH), Depending on age and sex of the subgroups examined, current consumption ac counted for only about 10-25% of the variability in lifetime alcohol consum ption; current and lifetime times intoxicated were even less highly correla ted. Lifetime and current measures of alcohol consumption accounted for app roximately 40-50% of the variability in corresponding lifetime and current measures of times intoxicated in younger cohorts, but this feb to 25% and l ess in older cohorts. These findings support the use of lifetime measures o f alcohol consumption and times intoxicated based on the CLDH together with current measures to investigate chronic and acute alcohol effects on healt h and social outcomes.