Patterns of consumption of alcohol in Seville, Spain. Results of a general population survey.

The results of a general population survey of the patterns of consumption of alcohol in a representative sample of the province of Seville, Spain, are analysed in this article. The proportions of drinkers and abstainers and distribution by age, by sex and by urban-rural residency are discussed. Frequency of consumption declines as age increases in both sexes but the negative slope is more marked in females. Analysis of the results on quantity of alcohol consumed during the week prior to the interview shows that men drink more heavily than women in all age-groups and young people drink more heavily than other age-groups. The combination of data on frequency of consumption and maximum quantity of alcohol reportedly consumed on the highest drinking occasion shows that the majority of men belong to the High Frequency-Low Quantity typology, followed by High Frequency-Medium Quantity, but in women nearly 60% belong to the Low Frequency-Low Quantity typology, followed by High Frequency-Low Quantity. The highest proportions of both abstainers and heavy drinkers are found in the group of people with the lowest income. Language: en