Trends in alcohol intake in a Southern German population from 1984-1985 to 1989-1990: Results of the MONICA Project Augsburg.

This study was undertaken to measure trends in alcohol intake from 1984- 85 to 1989-90 in a southern German population. In the surveys of the MONICA Augsburg Project conducted in 1984-85 (Survey 1) and 1989-90 (Survey 2) data on alcohol intake (in grams/day) were gathered from two independent representative samples (Survey 1: 4,016; Survey 2: 3,960) of men and women, aged 25 to 64 years. A validated recall method was applied. Self-reported mean alcohol intake was high in Survey 1 (36 g/day in men; 11 g/day in women), but decreased from Survey 1 to Survey 2 in both men and women (32 g/day in men; 9 g/day in women). The decrease is reflected also in the median and 95th percentile values of alcohol intake and in an increase of the proportion of self-reported nondrinkers from Survey 1 to Survey 2. Alcohol intake in the MONICA Augsburg population is rather high in comparison to other countries, but a trend to lower intakes was observed from 1984-85 to 1989-90