Self‐Reported Alcohol Consumption and Adverse Consequences of Drinking in Three Areas of Britain: General Population Studies

Abstract

Summary Official rates of alcohol‐related problems are highest in the North, and lowest in the South of Britain. As pan of a wider study of regional variations, surveys of self‐reported levels of alcohol consumption and adverse consequences of drinking were simultaneously conducted within 3 areas of Britain. These were Highland and Tayside Regions in Scotland, and part of the South East Thames Area Health Board in England. These areas have markedly different rates of alcohol related problems. It was found that these variations were not reflected in differences in either levels or patterns of self‐reported alcohol consumption. It is suggested that care has to be exercised when interpreting official statistics relating to area differences in problem‐drinking.