Risk functions for frequency of alcohol-related negative consequences: NewZealand survey data

Aims. To examine the dose-response relationship between self-reported alcoh ol consumption and levels of self-reported negative consequences of drinkin g. Design. Data from 10 general population random sample surveys over the y ears 1990-1997 were combined and responses were plotted and subjected to re gression analysis. Setting. Auckland, a city of approximately I million peo ple in the North Island of New Zealand. Participants were interviewed in th eir homes using a computer-assisted telephone interviewing system. Particip ants. General population sample of 11 817 aged 14-65 years, representative of the Auckland population. Measurements. Frequency of experience of 14 neg ative consequences; annual volume of alcohol consumed; frequency of drinkin g larger quantities of alcohol. Results. Three different patterns of relati onship between consequences and consumption were found for different conseq uences. These differed between the prevalence and the frequency of conseque nces bur mere similar for two different measures of consumption, annual vol ume and larger quantity drinking. Analysis of the frequency of experienced consequences found that the risk curves for the most common consequences ap proximated a straight line and the effects at low volume intake were due to those drinking larger quantities. Three less common consequences clearly s howed a concave curve suggesting a threshold effect, with effects beginning at about 20 litres per annum of absolute alcohol. Conclusion. The differen t relationships between consumption and consequences imply that some conseq uences occur only once a very heavy volume of drinking is reached, while ot hers show a direct relationship with consumption, reflecting that volume of alcohol consumed is closely related to the quantities consumed.