Alcohol consumption and binge drinking in Novosibirsk, Russia, 1985-95

Aims. It has been suggested that the effects of alcohol, and binge drinking in particular, contributed to the dramatic fluctuations in Russian mortali ty rates: rapid decline in 1985-87, slow increase in 1988-91 and sharp incr ease in 1992-94. To date, there have been no data available to substantiate this claim. We examine for the first time the trends in alcohol intake and binge drinking in a Russian urban population. Methods. Independent random samples of men and women aged 25-64 in two districts of Novosibirsk city (W estern Siberia) have been examined in 1985/86 (1535 men and 1296 women), 19 88/89 (1700 men, no women), and 1994/95 (1539 men and 1511 women). Response rates ranged from 71% to 73%. The subjects reported frequency of drinking alcohol, average amount of alcohol consumed at a typical occasion, and thei r alcohol intake in the week preceding the interview. Two cut-off points to define binge drinling were adopted: greater than or equal to 80 g and grea ter than or equal to 120 g at a single occasion. Results. The proportion of men who drank at least once a week increased from 27% in 1985/86 to 38% in 1994/95; corresponding figures among women were 0.6% and 6.5%, respectivel y. The mean consumption of pure alcohol at a single occasion in men was 90 g in 1985/86, 119 g in 1988/89 and 112 g in 1994/95; in women, it was 33 g in 1985/86 and 32 g in 1994/95. Between the first and the last survey, the mean weekly intake of pure alcohol increased from 120 g to 184 g in men and from 31 g to 41 g in women. Prevalence rates of binge drinking ( greater t han or equal to 80 g at least once a month) in the three surveys were 36%, 52% and 51%, respectively, in men, and 0.4% in the first and 5% in the last survey among women. Conclusion. Alcohol consumption and prevalence of bing e drinking were high in men and low in women. The frequency of binge drinki ng among men increased between 1985/86 and 1988/89 and remained stable betw een 1988/89 and 1994/95. This is not consistent with trends in mortality. S horter-term fluctuations between surveys, however, cannot be excluded.