RESEARCH

Full list of author information is available at the end of the articleIntroduction The trend in decreasing response rates in population surveys is a growing concern in epidemiological research because of the increased likelihood of non-response bias [1-4]. Low response rates threaten to compromise the generalizability of population survey data, not least because of the general underestimation of alcohol consumption when self-report measures are used in population surveys [5]. As well as affecting prevalence estimates, the resulting skewness might change associa-tions with other variables. Both abstainers and hazardous alcohol users seem to be overrepresented among non-responders to population surveys [6-23]. Reasons for not responding to surveys among high consumers of alcohol are likely to include frequent changes of address, failing to show up for ap-pointments, not being at home, irregular life styles, and current drinking problems, including binge drinking an