Drinking patterns and alcohol-related experiences amongst adults on the Isle of Man: A comparison with the United Kingdom

This paper describes the initial results of a survey of alcohol consumption among a general population sample of 1000 adults living on the Isle of Man. This survey is part of Gender, Alcohol and Culture: an International Study (GENACIS). Findings were compared with those of the UK GENACIS survey. The latter had elicited information from 2027 adults. This comparison revealed that the Isle of Man has a greater proportion of abstainers than the UK sample. Even so, among drinkers there was no difference on annual frequency of alcohol consumption or in relation to the quantity consumed on the last drinking occasion. Manx respondents reported having a greater number of positive experiences from drinking. Manx respondents were also more likely than those in the UK to be in the middle range of self-reported alcohol-related problems. A substantial minority of Manx adults (9% of women and 22% of men) were drinking above sensible levels. Moreover, some (roughly 1% of women and 5.6% of men) were exceeding high risk alcohol consumption levels. Many people reported having experienced alcohol-related problems. It was notable that this survey did not suggest that upsurge in heavy drinking amongst young Manx women that has recently been evident amongst their counterparts in the UK