Alcohol and Alcoholism Advance Access published online on February 3, 2008
Alcohol and Alcoholism, doi:10.1093/alcalc/agm167
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Hazardous Alcohol Drinking in the Former Soviet Union: A Cross-Sectional Study of Eight Countries
1 European Centre on Health of Societies in Transition, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, Keppel Street, London WC1E 7HT, UK
2 Centre for the Study of Public Policy, University of Strathclyde, Livingstone, Glasgow, G1 1XH, UK
3 Department of Politics and International Relations, University of Aberdeen, Edward Wright Building, Dunbar Street, Aberdeen AB24 3QY, UK
4 Center of Sociological and Political Studies, Belarus State University, Karl Marx Street, 31, 220030 Minsk, Belarus
5 Centre for Sociological Studies, Moscow State University, 11 Mokhovaya Street, Moscow, 103009, Russia
* Author to whom correspondence should be addressed: London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, Keppel Street, London, WC1E 7HT, United Kingdom. Tel.: +442076127811; Fax: +442076127812; E-mail: Joceline.Pomerleau{at}lshtm.ac.uk
Received 13 July 2005; in revised form 25 January 2005; in revised form 8 September 2005; accepted 10 September 2005
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Abstract |
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Background: Hazardous consumption of large quantities of alcohol is a major cause of ill-health in the former Soviet Union (fSU). The objective of this study was to describe episodic heavy drinking and other hazardous drinking behaviors in eight countries of the fSU. Methods: Data from national surveys of adults conducted in Armenia, Belarus, Georgia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Moldova, Russia, and Ukraine in 2001 were used (overall sample size 18,428; response rates 71–88%). Heavy episodic drinking, high alcohol intake, drinking alcohol during the working day, and using illegally produced strong spirits were examined. Results: On average, 23% of men and 2% of women were defined as heavy episodic drinkers (
2 l of beer or 750 g bottle of wine or 200 g strong spirits at least once every 2–3 weeks). This was more common in young males, women who are single or who are divorced/separated/widowed, in smokers, and in frequent alcohol drinkers. About half the respondents who drank strong spirits obtained at least some alcohol from private sources. Among drinkers, 11% of males and 7% of women usually took their first drink before the end of working day. Conclusions: Heavy episodic alcohol drinking is frequent in males throughout the region—although prevalence rates may have been affected by underreporting—but is still relatively rare in women. Alcohol policies in the region should address hazardous drinking patterns and the common use of illegally produced alcohol.