Alcohol consumption among middle-aged and elderly men: a community study from western India

Alcohol Alcohol. 2003 Jul-Aug;38(4):327-31. doi: 10.1093/alcalc/agg077.

Abstract

Aims: To assess the prevalence and pattern of alcohol use in a middle-aged and elderly population in Mumbai, India.

Methods: 50 220 men aged >/=45 years from the lower and lower-middle section of the general population were interviewed.

Results: 18.8% were currently consuming alcoholic beverages, of whom 32.8% drank on at least 6 days per week. The most popular beverage was locally distilled products of fruits and grain (country liquor). Seventy-five per cent of the consumers of country liquor would consume over 53 g of ethanol on a day when they drank, with 46.6% of these doing so on at least 6 days per week.

Conclusions: Abstinence, and also heavy and frequent use of alcohol, are common in this population and the latter is likely to have significant public health implications.

MeSH terms

  • Aged
  • Aged, 80 and over
  • Alcohol Drinking / economics
  • Alcohol Drinking / epidemiology*
  • Alcohol Drinking / psychology
  • Alcoholic Beverages / statistics & numerical data
  • Data Collection* / statistics & numerical data
  • Humans
  • India / epidemiology
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Socioeconomic Factors