Alcohol and Alcoholism Advance Access originally published online on October 22, 2007
Alcohol and Alcoholism 2008 43(2):215-222; doi:10.1093/alcalc/agm151
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Modelling over week patterns of alcohol consumption
1 Department of Hygiene and Epidemiology, University of Porto Medical School, Portugal
2 Department of Epidemiology and Quantitative Methods, National School of Public Health/Oswaldo Cruz Foundation, Brazil
3 Scientific Computation Program/Oswaldo Cruz Foundation, Brazil
* Author to whom correspondence should be addressed at: Department of Hygiene and Epidemiology, University of Porto Medical School, Alameda Prof. Hernâni Monteiro, 4200-319 Porto, Portugal. Tel: +351225513652; Fax: +351225513653; E-mail: carlal{at}med.up.pt
Received 22 February 2007; in revised form 3 May 2007; in revised form 3 September 2007; accepted 6 September 2007
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Abstract |
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Aims: This study aims to analyze alcohol consumption patterns throughout a week, controlled by socio-demographic characteristics, and to discuss the adequacy of the complex models employed. Methods: The sample included 496 participants, from both sexes, 
40 years old and with 7-day dietary records. Bayesian generalized additive mixed models (GAMM) were applied using two approaches: a multinomial model, with three categories of alcohol consumption behaviour including; non-drinkers, alcohol during meals only and alcohol at any time; and a gamma model for drinkers which considered the total amount of alcohol ingested per day. Results: The multinomial model captured two different patterns of alcohol consumption: a sharp increase in consumption on weekends for mealtime only drinkers, the dominant behaviour among drinkers and a linear increase from Monday towards Sunday for those who drank at anytime. The effect of higher education changed from slightly protective for mealtime only drinkers to risky for anytime drinkers. The amount of alcohol consumed presents a pattern similar to the meals-only drinking. Conclusions: Alcohol consumption increased during the week. Two different alcohol consumption patterns were identified according to drinking behaviours. The methodological approach utilized was essential in uncovering these patterns.