The use of drinking places by gender, age and ethnic groups: an analysis of routine drinking activities

Aims. This paper extends a prior analysis of drinking patterns to consider the influence of non-economic variables on the selection of drinking locati ons. Design. Using data from a general population telephone survey conducte d as a pan of the Community Trials Project, Tobit models are estimated to d etermine the influence of background demographic characteristics upon the s election of drinking locations net of other model control variables. Partic ipants and setting. 24 778 current drinkers from four California and two So uth Carolina communities. Findings. Distinct patterns of premise utilizatio n are found to be associated with age, gender and ethnic subgroups. Additio nally these patterns of utilization are differentially linked to drinking a nd driving, suggesting that patterns of outlet utilization are differential ly linked to acute drinking problems (e.g. drunken driving and alcohol-rela ted car crashes). Conclusions. Observed differences in outlet utilization p atterns between age, gender and ethnic subgroups imply that preventive inte rventions should rake into account the manner in which these subpopulations make use of drinking venues.