Drinking patterns generally change over the life cycle. But exactly how do they change? How consistent are they? Do drinking patterns differ between men and women and, if so, how?
The goal of this study was to determine typical drinking patterns over the life cycle. It analyzed data from nine prospective cohorts in the U.K. Each had at least three repeated measures of alcohol consumption by individual participants.
The total sample size was 59,397. It included 174,666 individual observations. The data spanned the life cycle from adolescence to over the age of 90.
Findings
Among men, average drinking rose sharply during adolescence. It then peaked around the age of 25 and then declined and plateaued during mid-life. Finally, it began declining from about age 60. A similar pattern was found for women but with substantially lower overall drinking. Peak drinking for men was 20 units per week. For women it was around seven to eight units per week.
Total quantity of alcohol consumed declined during the life cycle. But drinking daily or on most days of the week increased during mid to older age. This drinking pattern was especially the case among men.
Other research has found that drinking frequently is important to maximize the health benefits of moderate drinking.
Resources: Drinking Patterns Across the Life Cycle
Web
Alcoholic Beverage Consumption in the U.S.: Patterns and Trends
Source
Britton, A., et al. Life course trajectories of alcohol consumption in the United Kingdom using longitudinal data from nine cohort studies. BMC Med., 13, 47.
Readings on Alcohol Drinking Patterns.
Berg N, et al. A 26-year follow-up study of heavy drinking trajectories. Alco Alco. 2013, 48:452-457.
Bobo J, et al. Alcohol use trajectories in two cohorts of US women. J Am Geriat Soc. 2010, 58:2375-2380.
Fan A, et al. Association of lifetime alcohol drinking trajectories with cardiometabolic risk. J Clin Endocrinol Metab. 2008, 93:154-161.
Gilhooly M. Reduced drinking with age: is it normal? Addict Res Theory. 2005, 13:267-280.