Ten-Year Trends in Chinese Drinking Pattern: Chinese Nutrition and Health Surveillance 2002 to 2012

Abstract

Abstract Objectives To obtain information on drinking patterns and its changing trends, and to reveal drinking pattern and risky drinking in relation to socioeconomic development in China. Methods Data from the 2002 China National Nutrition and Health Survey and the 2010–2012 Chinese Nutrition and Health Surveillance were used to describe the drinking patterns of Chinese aged 15 years and above. Stratified multistage cluster sampling methods were used to select nationally representative sample in the two surveys. Weighted analyses included 194,339 participants estimate 10 billion Chinese. Current drinkers defined as respondents who had consumed alcoholic beverages in the previous 12-month period. Drinking ≥5 times per week was considered as frequent drinking. Excessive drinking was defined as consumption of ≥25 g/d alcohol for men and ≥15 g/d alcohol for women. Results In 10-year period, the prevalence of current drinking increased from 44.0% (95%CI: 43.3–44.6) to 55.8% (95%CI: 51.6–58.5) for male, from 9.7% (95%CI: 9.3–10.1) to 13.5% (95%CI: 11.3–15.7) for female. Among current drinkers, prevalence of frequent drinking increased from 33.3% (95%CI: 32.4–34.3) to 35.5% (95%CI: 31.6–39.5) for male, from 13.4% (95%CI: 12.1–14.8) to 14.0% (95%CI: 11.3–16.6) for female. Median daily alcohol intake decreased from 14.8 g (95%CI: 14.2–15.4) to 11.4 g (95%CI: 8.9–13.9) for male and from 1.6 g (95%CI: 1.3–1.8) to 0.9 g (95%CI: 0.6–1.2) for female. Prevalence of excessive drinking among current drinkers decreased from 33.2% (95%CI: 32.3–34.0) to 30.4 (95%CI: 26.5–34.3). Education level showed significantly negative effect on the prevalence of excessive drinking. Female, drinkers with drinking frequency less than 1 time per week, and drinkers with high education or income level were more likely to choose wine. In contrast, male, frequent drinkers, and drinkers with low education or income level had higher proportion consume spirits. Conclusions Increasing prevalence of current and frequent drinking, and high excessive drinking rate showed that culturally appropriate effort to reduce alcohol use in China is still necessary. Funding Sources National Health and Family Planning Commission (former Ministry of Health of the People's Republic of China) Medical Reform Major Program: China Nutrition and Health Surveillance 2010–2012.