Table 3.
Prevalence and distribution of drinks consumed among adult current drinkers overall and in each demographic group, 2014–2015 National Alcohol Survey and 2015 BRFSS, United States
| Average daily alcohol consumption levela | 2014–2015 National Alcohol Survey | 2015 BRFSS | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Weighted % (95% CI) of average daily alcohol consumption among current drinkers (n=4,075 drinkers) | Percent of drinks consumed, overallb and among drinkers in each demographic group | Weighted % (95% CI) of average daily alcohol consumption among current drinkers (n=204,518 drinkers) | Percent of drinks consumed, overallc and among drinkers in each demographic group | |
| Overall | 100.0 | 100.0% | 100.0 | 100.0% |
| Low | 83.7 (82.0, 85.4) | 31.0% | 88.9 (88.6, 89.2) | 50.1% |
| Medium | 8.2 (6.9, 9.4) | 18.0% | 7.8 (7.6, 8.0) | 22.3% |
| High | 8.2 (6.9, 9.4) | 51.0% | 3.3 (3.2, 3.5) | 27.7% |
| Men | ||||
| Low | 84.2 (81.8, 86.6) | 33.2% | 89.1 (88.7, 89.4) | 50.2% |
| Medium | 7.7 (5.9, 9.4) | 18.0% | 7.3 (7.0, 7.7) | 21.2% |
| High | 8.2 (6.3, 10.0) | 48.8% | 3.6 (3.4, 3.8) | 28.7% |
| Women | ||||
| Low | 83.1 (80.7, 85.5) | 26.9% | 88.7 (88.3, 89.1) | 49.9% |
| Medium | 8.7 (6.9, 10.5) | 17.8% | 8.3 (8.0, 8.6) | 24.8% |
| High | 8.2 (6.4, 10.0) | 55.3% | 3.0 (2.8, 3.2) | 25.3% |
| 18–44 years | ||||
| Low | 80.8 (78.1, 83.6) | 26.3% | 88.6 (88.2, 89.1) | 48.5% |
| Medium | 8.7 (6.8, 10.7) | 15.7% | 7.7 (7.4, 8.1) | 21.2% |
| High | 10.4 (8.3, 12.5) | 58.0% | 3.7 (3.4, 3.9) | 30.3% |
| ≥45 years | ||||
| Low | 86.5 (84.4, 88.5) | 38.7% | 89.2 (88.9, 89.5) | 51.7% |
| Medium | 7.7 (6.1, 9.3) | 22.2% | 7.9 (7.6, 8.1) | 23.4% |
| High | 5.8 (4.4, 7.2) | 39.1% | 3.0 (2.8, 3.1) | 24.9% |
| Men, 18–44 years | ||||
| Low | 80.8 (76.9, 84.7) | 28.0% | 88.7 (88.1, 89.3) | 48.7% |
| Medium | 7.9 (5.3, 10.6) | 15.5% | 7.4 (6.9, 7.8) | 20.5% |
| High | 11.3 (8.2, 14.4) | 56.6% | 3.9 (3.5, 4.3) | 30.8% |
| Men, ≥45 years | ||||
| Low | 87.9 (85.1, 90.7) | 42.0% | 89.4 (89.0, 89.9) | 51.8% |
| Medium | 7.4 (5.1, 9.8) | 22.8% | 7.3 (6.9, 7.7) | 21.9% |
| High | 4.7 (2.9, 6.4) | 35.2% | 3.2 (3.0, 3.5) | 26.3% |
| Women, 18–44 years | ||||
| Low | 80.9 (77.1, 84.8) | 23.0% | 88.5 (87.9, 89.1) | 48.2% |
| Medium | 9.6 (6.7, 12.6) | 16.2% | 8.2 (7.6, 8.7) | 22.8% |
| High | 9.4 (6.6, 12.2) | 60.8% | 3.3 (3.0, 3.7) | 29.1% |
| Women, ≥45 years | ||||
| Low | 85.0 (82.0, 87.9) | 32.5% | 88.9 (88.4, 89.3) | 51.6% |
| Medium | 8.0 (5.8, 10.2) | 21.0% | 8.5 (8.1, 8.8) | 26.7% |
| High | 7.0 (4.8, 9.2) | 46.5% | 2.6 (2.4, 2.9) | 21.7% |
BRFSS: Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System, CI: Confidence interval
Low average daily alcohol consumption was defined as >0-≤1 drink of alcohol (women) or >0-≤2 drinks (men); medium average daily alcohol consumption was defined as >1-≤2 drinks of alcohol (women) or >2-≤4 drinks (men); and high average daily alcohol consumption was defined as >2 drinks of alcohol (women) or >4 drinks (men).
Among the weighted estimate of about 152 million current drinkers, the total estimated annual drinks consumed in the NAS was 51,323,923,107 drinks.
Among the weighted estimate of about 119.5 million current drinkers, the total estimated annual drinks consumed in the BRFSS was 34,982,649,345 drinks.