Alcohol and Alcoholism Advance Access originally published online on January 29, 2008
Alcohol and Alcoholism 2008 43(3):360-370; doi:10.1093/alcalc/agm181
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Prevalence and the factors associated with binge drinking, alcohol abuse, and alcohol dependence: a population-based study of chinese adults in Hong Kong
1 The School of Public Health 2/F, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Prince of Wales Hospital, New Territories, Hong Kong SAR
2 Department of Psychiatry, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, New Territories, Hong Kong SAR
* Author to whom correspondence should be addresses: Tel.: +852 2252 8700; Fax: +852 2145 8517; E-mail: siangriffiths{at}cuhk.edu.hk
Received 4 October 2007; in revised form 15 November 2007; in revised form 5 December 2007; accepted 12 December 2007
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Abstract |
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Aims: To examine the patterns of drinking, the relationship between binge drinking, alcohol abuse, and dependence, and the sociodemographic factors associated with problem drinking among Hong Kong Chinese. Method: An anonymous, random telephone survey was conducted on 9860 Hong Kong Chinese adults from April to June, 2006. Results: The age-adjusted prevalence amongst men for binge drinking was 14.4% with 5.3% of males being alcohol abusers and 2.3% dependent on alcohol. The corresponding figures for women were all lower at 3.6%, 1.4%, and 0.7%, respectively. Younger age groups showed the highest prevalence of these drinking problems. Among male binge drinkers, 18.7% were also alcohol abusers and 12.3% were alcohol dependent. Among female binge drinkers, 16% reported alcohol abuse and 9.9% reported dependence. Male binge drinkers were less likely to be older, less likely to be students but more likely to be employed in the service industry. Female binge drinkers were less likely to be over 60 years of age or married but more likely to be smokers. In both genders, smoking was significantly associated with the likelihood of binge drinking (OR = 3.6–12.3), alcohol abuse (OR = 3.0–12.1), and dependence (OR = 5.2–20.6). Conclusions: Although binge drinking has been well tolerated in Chinese culture, it is strongly associated with alcohol abuse and dependence in both genders in Hong Kong. Our findings suggest that prevalence of problematic alcohol consumption warrants greater promotion of alcohol harms awareness. Higher rates of heavy drinking in younger-aged individuals may reflect changing lifestyle behaviors and herald higher future levels of alcohol-related health and social problems.