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Article

Internationally recognized guidelines for 'sensible' alcohol consumption: Is exceeding them actually detrimental to health and social circumstances? Evidence from a population-based cohort study

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Citation

Batty GD, Lewars H, Emslie C, Gale CR & Hunt K (2009) Internationally recognized guidelines for 'sensible' alcohol consumption: Is exceeding them actually detrimental to health and social circumstances? Evidence from a population-based cohort study. Journal of Public Health, 31 (3), pp. 360-365. https://doi.org/10.1093/pubmed/fdp063

Abstract
Background The health and social impact of drinking in excess of internationally recognized weekly (>21 units in men; >14 units in women) and daily (>4 units in men; >3 units in women) recommendations for 'sensible' alcohol intake are largely unknown. Methods A prospective cohort study of 1551 men and women aged around 55 years in 1988 when typical alcohol consumption was recalled using a 7-day grid. An average of 3.4 years later (1990/92), study participants were re-surveyed (n = 1259; 84.7% of the target population) when they responded to nurse-administered enquiries regarding minor psychiatric morbidity, self-perceived health, hypertension, accidents, overweight/obesity and financial difficulties. ÍæÅ¼½ã½ã members were followed up for mortality experience over 18 years. Results In fully adjusted analyses, surpassing guidelines for sensible alcohol intake was associated with an increased risk of hypertension [daily guidelines only: P-value(trend): 0.012], financial problems [weekly guidelines: P-value(difference): 0.046] and, to a lesser degree, accidents [weekly guidelines: P-value(difference): 0.065]. There was no association between either indicator of alcohol intake and mortality risk. Conclusions In the present study, there was some evidence for a detrimental effect on health and social circumstances of exceeding current internationally recognized weekly and daily guidelines for alcohol intake.

Keywords
alcohol; alcohol consumption; epidemiology

Journal
Journal of Public Health: Volume 31, Issue 3

StatusPublished
Funders
Publication date30/09/2009
Publication date online02/07/2009
URL
ISSN1741-3842
eISSN1741-3850

People (1)

Professor Kate Hunt

Professor Kate Hunt

Emeritus Professor, Institute for Social Marketing

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