The relationship between alcohol consumption and social status in Stockholm. Has the social pattern of alcohol consumption changed?

Data from the Stockholm Health of the Population Study in 1984 (n = 6217) show small differences in mean alcohol consumption and in the prevalence of high consumers in various socioeconomic and educational categories of both sexes. Among young people mean consumption was higher in those who had low formal education, equal to 18.8 g 100% ethanol among men aged 18-24 years and 5.9 g for those with public elementary school education, while the corresponding figures for young women were 16.7 and 1.8 g respectively. Those reporting a high alcohol consumption (greater than or equal to 35 g 100% ethanol/day among men and greater than or equal to 25 g among women) had a relative risk over 7 of having been inpatients with alcohol-related diseases during 1980-1984. Our results, together with other recent Swedish survey data, indicate a change in the socioeconomic distribution of alcohol consumption over time. This change is analysed in relation to Swedish alcohol policy, changes in various socioeconomic categories, and the increase in information about alcohol.