Smoking and alcohol consumption in a UK Chinese population

Little research has been conducted on health in Chinese communities in the UK and there are few representative data on smoking, alcohol consumption or other aspects of lifestyle. We undertook a cross sectional population-base d study of 380 Chinese and 625 European men and women aged 25 to 64y, using self-completion and interview questionnaires in Newcastle upon Tyne, UK be tween 1991 and 1995. We measured self-reported prevalence of cigarette smok ing, number of cigarettes smoked per week and age at starting smoking; self -reported prevalence of alcohol consumption and units of alcohol consumed p er week. In age-adjusted comparisons smoking was less common in Chinese (24%) than E uropean men (35%) (P = 0.00002) and among Chinese (1%) compared with Europe an women (33%) (P < 0.00001). Number of cigarettes smoked was similar among Chinese and European male smokers. Median age at starting smoking was high er among Chinese (18.5 y) compared with European men (15y) (P = 0.00001). S moking was commonest in older Chinese and in younger Europeans. The prevalence of alcohol consumption was lower among Chinese (63%) than Eu ropean men (93%) (P < 0.00001) and among Chinese (29%) compared to European women (89%) (P < 0.00001). Median alcohol consumption was significantly lo wer among Chinese (2 units/week) than European men (16 units/week) (P < 0.0 0001), and among Chinese (1 unit/week) compared to European women (6 units/ week) (P < 0.00001). Among those who drank alcohol, Chinese men were less l ikely to drink above recommended limits than European men (1% vs 39%; P < 0 .00001). Chinese men and women currently have relatively favourable patterns of smok ing compared to European adults in Newcastle. Average alcohol consumption a mong Chinese who drink is lower than among Europeans, and a substantial pro portion of the Chinese population in Newcastle drink no alcohol. patterns o f health related behaviour should be tracked over time in ethnic minority p opulations to identify changes that pose risk to health and which deserve a ppropriate intervention.