Socioeconomic status and trends in alcohol drinking in the Danish MONICA population, 1982-92

Aims: To examine trends in alcohol drinking in different educational groups . Methods: Data from three cross-sectional WHO MONICA surveys conducted in 19 82-84, 1987, and 1991-92 were analysed to estimate trends in abstention. mo derate, heavy, and sporadic heavy alcohol use in relation to level of educa tion, age and smoking. In total, 6.695 Danish men and women aged 30, 40, 50 , and 60 years were included. Results: Alcohol drinking decreased in both men and women during the study period, but changes were only significant among the highest educated. In th e highest educated men the prevalence of moderate alcohol use increased fro m 77 to 82%, while heavy alcohol use declined from 19 to 12%. In the highes t educated women the prevalence of abstention increased From 15 to 22%, whi le moderate alcohol use declined from 78 to 68%. Conclusion: During the 1980s, alcohol drinking decreased among the highest educated men and women and an educational gradient in alcohol drinking wide ned in men and attenuated in women.