Odds Of Heavy Episodic Drinking Research Articles

Motherhood and drinking: The relative importance of mental health and psychosocial factors on maternal alcohol misuse during the postpartum period.

Being a mother of a young child may be protective against alcohol misuse for some, but not all, women. This is the first paper to identify the mental health and psychosocial correlates of alcohol misuse among postpartum mothers. Mothers with a child under 12-months (n=319) were recruited via social media to complete a cross-sectional online survey. Two hierarchical logistic regressions examined unique factors associated with heavy episodic drinking and hazardous alcohol use, including sociodemographic, mental ill-health, and psychosocial factors. On average, mothers drank alcohol at low levels (4 drinking days, 9 standard drinks in the past month). One in 10 (11.6%) reported heavy episodic drinking during this time and 1 in 12 (8.5%) were drinking at hazardous or greater levels. In the final models, older age and more severe postpartum anxiety were associated with higher likelihood of hazardous drinking (OR=1.37, OR=1.09, respectively), while breastfeeding was associated with lower odds of heavy episodic drinking (OR=0.29). Greater perceived social support was associated with lower odds of heavy episodic (OR=0.56) and hazardous drinking (OR=0.39), while higher coping-with-anxiety and social drinking motives were associated with greater odds of both forms of alcohol misuse (ORs=3.51-10.40). Conformity drinking motives (e.g., drinking to avoid social rejection) were negatively associated with heavy episodic drinking (OR=0.24). Maternal anxiety, coping-with-anxiety and social drinking motives, and reduced social support are important factors associated with postpartum alcohol misuse. These modifiable factors are potential targets for screening and intervention for mothers who may need additional support and preventative care.

Heavy episodic drinking and self-reported increased alcohol use during the COVID-19 pandemic: a spotlight on frontline and essential workers in Canada.

There is evidence that some frontline and essential workers have increased their alcohol use during the COVID-19 pandemic; however, this has not been examined in Canada. Using the Survey on COVID-19 and Mental Health 2020, weighted prevalence and 95% confidence intervals of self-reported increased alcohol consumption and heavy episodic drinking were calculated for each of the population groups: frontline workers, essential workers, and nonfrontline or essential workers (NFEW). Logistic regression was used to examine the associations between social determinants of health, mental health and alcohol use for each group. The prevalence of increased alcohol consumption and past-month heavy episodic drinking did not differ across frontline workers, essential workers and NFEW. For the three groups, nonracialized group members had significantly higher odds for both outcomes. Screening positive for either generalized anxiety disorder or mood disorder was significantly associated with increased alcohol consumption across the three groups. For frontline and essential workers, females had significantly lower odds of heavy episodic drinking compared to males. For essential workers only, living in a rural area was significantly associated with lower odds of increased alcohol use, and screening positive for posttraumatic stress disorder was significantly associated with increased odds of heavy episodic drinking. For frontline workers only, living in a rural area was significantly associated with lower odds of heavy episodic drinking. While frontline and essential workers were not more likely to report increased alcohol consumption and heavy episodic drinking compared to NFEW, there were some differences in factors associated with alcohol use. Such findings demonstrate the benefit of examining each group separately to provide information for targeted prevention strategies.

Exploring the Association of e-Cigarette and/or Cannabis Use with Heavy Episodic Drinking among Ontario Adults

Background: The use of electronic cigarettes and cannabis has significantly increased in recent years, which raises public health concerns. There are also concerns about the association of these substances with drinking behaviors. The main objective of the present study is to examine the association of e-cigarettes and/or cannabis use with heavy episodic drinking (HED) among Ontario adults. Methods: The sample consisted of 5,564 adults from the Monitor Survey in 2018 and 2019. Cannabis and e-cigarette use reflected any use of the substances in the past 12 months. HED was defined as consumption of four/five or more drinks on a single occasion at least monthly in the past 12 months. Odds ratios (OR) were estimated from logistic regression models accounting for complex survey design and sociodemographic factors. Results: Overall, the prevalence of HED was 17.5% in 2018 and 2019. Among participants who reported both e-cigarette and cannabis use, about one-half (50.4%) reported HED at least monthly. Adjusting for covariates, the odds of HED were 5.71 (95%CI, 3.92–8.30) times higher among those who reported both e-cigarette and cannabis use compared to those who used neither substance. Conclusions: The use of e-cigarettes and cannabis are significantly associated with heavy episodic drinking among adults, indicating that those who engage in the dual use of e-cigarette and cannabis may be an important group to target with intervention programs.

Daily associations between affect and alcohol use among adults: The importance of affective arousal

ObjectiveLittle is known about whether level of affective arousal (i.e., high vs. low) is associated with alcohol use and whether this relationship differs by valence (i.e., positive vs. negative affect) among adults. MethodsParticipants were n = 93 self-reported current drinkers (ages 25–65) who reported positive (PA) and negative affect (NA) seven times a day and alcohol use once a day for seven consecutive days. For each individual, mean levels of high arousal PA (e.g., excited), low arousal PA (e.g., satisfied), high arousal NA (e.g., frustrated), and low arousal NA (e.g., sad) were computed for each day. ResultsAlcohol use was reported on 30% of person-days, with an average of 2.3 drinks consumed on drinking days. Heavy episodic drinking (4+/5+ drinks for women/men) occurred on 4% of days. After covarying for age, gender, and weekday, days with higher-than-usual levels of high arousal PA were associated with a 52% increase in the odds of consuming any alcohol and a 105% increase in the odds of engaging in heavy episodic drinking. Individuals reporting more low arousal PA on average had a 77% increase in the odds of heavy episodic drinking. No significant associations between high or low arousal NA and alcohol use were found. ConclusionsGreater PA, but not NA, was associated with heavy alcohol use at both the within- and between-person levels, perhaps attributable to social and enhancement drinking motives. Results differed by arousal, highlighting the importance of considering a wide range of affective states when examining alcohol use behavior.

A Web-Based, Computer-Tailored Intervention to Reduce Alcohol Consumption and Binge Drinking Among Spanish Adolescents: Cluster Randomized Controlled Trial.

BackgroundAlcohol consumption, including binge drinking (BD) and heavy episodic drinking (HED), is one of the leading risk factors among Spanish adolescents leading to significant social, health, and economic consequences. Reduction of BD and HED in adolescents can be achieved using Web-based, computer-tailored (CT) interventions, providing highly personalized feedback that is adapted to a person’s individual characteristics and needs. Randomized controlled trials assessing the effects of tailored BD reduction programs among Spanish adolescents are scarce.ObjectiveThe aim of this study was to test the effectiveness of the Web-based, CT intervention Alerta Alcohol, aimed at the prevention of BD in Spanish adolescents. As a secondary outcome, effects on HED, weekly consumption, and any consumption were also assessed. The adherence and process evaluation were assessed.MethodsA cluster randomized controlled trial conducted among 15 Spanish schools was developed. Each school was randomized into either an experimental condition (EC) (N=742) or a control condition (CC) (N=505). Finally, 351 participants for the EC and 261 for the CC were included in the analysis (N=612). Baseline assessment took place in January and February 2017. Demographic variables and alcohol use were assessed at baseline. Follow-up assessment of alcohol use took place 4 months later in May and June 2017. Participants were compared according to their randomization group (EC versus CC). After the baseline assessment, participants in the EC started the intervention, which consisted of short stories about BD, in which CT feedback was based on the I-Change Model for behavior change. Participants in the CC group only received the baseline questionnaire. Effects of the intervention were assessed using a three-level mixed logistic regression analysis for BD, HED, and any consumption, and a three-level mixed linear regression analysis for weekly consumption.ResultsIn total, 1247 adolescents participated in the baseline assessment and 612 participated in the follow-up assessment; the attrition rate was 50.92%. The intervention was effective in reducing HED among adolescents; the odds of HED in the CC was nine times that in the experimental condition (P=.04). No effects were found for BD, weekly consumption, and any consumption. Process evaluations revealed that the adolescents were satisfied with the program (68.8%), would use the program again (52.9%), and would recommend it to someone else (62.8%). Females and non-binge drinkers showed better responses in the process evaluation.ConclusionsOur intervention was effective regarding HED but not regarding BD, weekly consumption, and any consumption. It may be that limiting alcohol consumption to prevent HED was easier in the Spanish context than it was to carry out further steps, such as reducing other patterns of alcohol consumption. Hence, additional actions are needed to accomplish these latter goals, including community approaches and policy actions aimed at denormalizing alcohol consumption among Spanish adolescents.Trial RegistrationClinicalTrials.gov NCT03288896; https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT03288896International Registered Report Identifier (IRRID)RR2-10.1186/s12889-018-5346-4

Socioeconomic Inequalities in Adolescent Substance Use: Evidence From Twenty-Four European Countries

Background: While there is evidence for socioeconomic inequalities in some adolescent substance use behaviors, there is limited information on how socioeconomic inequalities compare across European countries and over time. Objectives: To compare socioeconomic inequalities in problematic adolescent substance use (regular smoking, heavy episodic drinking, and cannabis use) across 24 European countries at two time points. Methods: We use the European School Survey Project on Alcohol and Other Drugs (ESPAD) to examine socioeconomic inequalities in problematic adolescent substance use across 24 European countries in 2007 (n = 73,877) and 2011 (n = 71,060) using within country logistic regressions. Socioeconomic inequalities are measured using a relative index of inequality based on highest level of parental education relative to country of residence within survey year. Countries are ranked according to socioeconomic differentials. Results: In 2007, lower socioeconomic status (SES) adolescents had significantly higher odds of heavy episodic drinking in 10 countries, regular smoking in 12 countries, and recent cannabis use in 1 country. In 2011, the number of countries were 11, 15, and 0, respectively. In 2007, lower SES adolescents had a significantly lower odds of heavy episodic drinking in one country, regular smoking in one country, and cannabis use in four countries. In 2011, the number of countries were two, one, and six, respectively. There was little evidence for changes in socioeconomic inequalities over time. Conclusions: There are large country level differences in socioeconomic inequalities in adolescent substance use.

Testing daily associations between impulsivity, affect, and alcohol outcomes: a pilot study

Background: Considerable research has examined impulsivity between individuals, but less research has focused on whether impulsivity fluctuates within a person. Although previous research supports trait levels of impulsivity as a risk factor for increased alcohol involvement, it is unclear whether daily (i.e., state) fluctuations in impulsivity coincide with same-day drinking behaviors. The present pilot study tested (1) the extent to which impulsivity fluctuates within-person; (2) the influence of daily impulsivity on alcohol use outcomes across all days (i.e., whether drinking occurred, the number of drinks consumed, and intentions to drink) and on drinking days only (i.e., whether heavy episodic drinking occurred and the number of problems experienced); and (3) daily affect as moderators of these relationships.Method: Participants were 24 young adult drinkers without postsecondary education who completed a baseline plus 14 follow-up daily surveys. Each day, participants reported their impulsivity, affect, and drinking behavior.Results: Multilevel modeling revealed that 42.5% of the variability in daily impulsivity was due to within-person differences. Impulsivity was related to greater odds of heavy episodic drinking and more alcohol-related problems on drinking days. Positive affect moderated the relationship between impulsivity and alcohol-related problems, and the relationship between impulsivity and drinking intentions.Conclusions: Findings suggest that changes in positive affect and impulsivity may be a risk factor for alcohol problems in a daily context. Future research examining within-person impulsivity and negative outcomes may benefit from considering positive affect.

Unevenness in Health at the Intersection of Gender and Sexuality: Sexual Minority Disparities in Alcohol and Drug Use Among Transwomen in the San Francisco Bay Area

ABSTRACTResearch on the health of transwomen is largely focused on heterosexual HIV risk. Little is known about the health of sexual minority transwomen. We conducted a secondary cross-sectional analysis of data from a HIV risk and resilience study of transwomen aged 16 to 24 years in the San Francisco Bay Area (N = 259). Prevalence and demographic characteristics of sexual minority transwomen was assessed and logistic regression models were used to examine the relationship between sexual minority status and alcohol and drug use. In logistic regression models, sexual minority transwomen had greater fold odds of heavy episodic drinking and illicit prescription drug use compared to their heterosexual counterparts, controlling for race/ethnicity, age, income, nativity, hormone status, and history of feminization procedures. These results suggest that sexual minority status may be an important social determinant of health among gender minorities. Populations of transwomen are heterogeneous; effective interventions must consider sexual minority status.

The Association Between Body Image and Behavioral Misperception (BIBM) and Alcohol Use Among High School Girls: Results From the 2013 Youth Risk Behavioral Survey.

The need to be thin is pervasive in adolescent culture and is associated with increased risk outcomes among adolescent girls. Body image and behavioral misperception (BIBM) exists when there is a disconnect between body weight perception and actions taken related to perceived weight status. To understand this further, we examined the relationship between BIBM and alcohol use among high school girls in the United States. Using 2013 Youth Risk Behavior Survey data, we ran survey-weighted multivariable logistic regression analyses to examine BIBM and (a) lifetime alcohol use, (b) current alcohol use, and (c) current heavy episodic drinking (≥5 drinks in a few hours) among female high school students (N = 6,579). A total of 37.5% of high school females screened positive for BIBM, and 67.7%, 32.9%, and 17.8% reported lifetime alcohol use, current alcohol use, and heavy episodic drinking, respectively. In the final model, controlling for demographics, reporting a BIBM was associated with a 1.29 (95% CI [1.10, 1.51], p = .002) greater odds of lifetime alcohol use compared with those who did not; however, reporting BIBM was not significantly associated with current alcohol use. BIBM was also associated with a 1.22 (95% CI [1.02, 1.47], p = .03) greater odds of heavy episodic drinking compared with those without BIBM. The phenomenon of BIBM was associated with lifetime and heavy episodic drinking, but not current alcohol use, indicating that timing of alcohol use and onset of BIBM may be related. Potential explanations include shared underlying risk factors and using alcohol excessively as a coping mechanism, weight-gain strategy, or weight-loss strategy.

The Relationship Between Drinking Pattern, Social Capital, and Area-Deprivation: Findings From the Health Survey for England.

The purpose of this study was to establish the relationships between heavy episodic and drinking frequency with area-deprivation and social capital in England. Using the Health Survey for England 2002-2006, a nationally representative crosssectional survey (N = 54,422), multilevel logistic regression models with individuals nested within primary sampling units were carried out, stratified by sex, on (a) drinkers versus nondrinkers, (b) heavy episodic drinking versus drinking less (on the heaviest drinking day), and (c) fewer than 2 drink-free days versus at least 2 drink-free days. Key exposures were individual social capital variables (social trust, active civic participation, social support, neighborhood perception). Models adjusted for age, area-deprivation, economic activity, education, ethnicity, longstanding illness, marital status, and children in the household. Lack of social support (men: OR = 0.69, 95% CI [0.60, 0.79]; women: OR = 0.77, 95% CI [0.69, 0.86]) and no civic participation (men: OR = 0.75, 95% CI [0.67, 0.83]; women: OR = 0.73, 95% CI [0.68, 0.78]) decreased the odds of being a drinker versus a nondrinker. Among men, low social trust increased (OR = 1.16, 95% CI [1.04, 1.30]) and no civic participation decreased (OR = 0.81, 95% CI [0.74, 0.89]) the odds of heavy episodic drinking; among women, good overall neighborhood perception decreased the odds (OR = 0.91, 95% CI [0.86, 0.97]). Lack of social support (men: OR = 1.25, 95% CI [1.14, 1.36]; women: OR = 1.20, 95% CI [1.02, 1.40]) and no civic participation (men: OR = 1.25, 95% CI [1.14, 1.36]; women: OR = 1.37, 95% CI [1.25, 1.51]) increased the odds of having fewer than 2 drink-free days. Men and women living in the most deprived areas were less likely to drink, more likely to engage in heavy episodic drinking, and more likely to have at least 2 alcohol-free days, after social capital variables were adjusted for. Social capital is associated with drinking alcohol, and low forms is associated with heavy episodic and frequent drinking. Interventions to reduce heavy episodic consumption should be targeted at those with low social capital and those living in deprived areas where heavy drinking is normalized. Drink-free days recommended in guidelines could be further targeted at those lacking social support.

Partying Last Weekend: Factors Related to Heavy Episodic Drinking Among People Who Use Recreational Drugs

ABSTRACTBackground: Heavy episodic drinking (HED) has negative consequences for both the individual and society. Research on HED has focused mainly on the general population while research into HED and other drug use among recreational drug using populations is less developed. Objectives: This study explores factors related to HED on a previous weekend among male and female recreational drug users. Methods: Cross-sectional interviews were undertaken with those age 19+ who regularly use recreational drugs in a nightlife setting in two cities in Canada (n = 931) between 2008 and 2014. Participants were asked about their alcohol and other drug use the previous Friday or Saturday. Chi-square bivariate tests were used to determine factors significantly associated with HED with significant variables then entered into multivariate logistic regression models to determine related factors for men and women. Results: Results showed that 53.4% of all participants met criteria for HED the previous weekend and the majority of those had used at least one other drug. Multivariate models showed being in postsecondary full-time, being between 19 and 25, using cocaine and using tobacco the previous weekend was associated with HED for men. For women, using cocaine the previous weekend was associated with HED, while being 26 and over, married or common law and using marijuana was associated with lower odds of HED. Conclusion: HED is common among recreational drug users but different factors were associated HED for men and women. Interventions for recreational drug users should include both alcohol and other drug messaging and be gender specific.

Relationships between problematic alcohol consumption and delinquent behaviour from adolescence to young adulthood.

Heavy episodic drinking (HED) has been associated with increased risk for short- and long-term injury and harms, such as violence and delinquent behaviour; however, the temporal relationship between the two remains unclear, particularly on transition to young adulthood. This study investigates transactional pathways between HED and delinquent behaviour from adolescence to emerging adulthood. Data were drawn from the Australian Temperament Project; a population-based longitudinal study that has followed the health and development of participants (and parents) across 30 years from birth in 1982. The analytic sample was 1650 participants and included five measurement waves spanning adolescence (3 waves: 13-18 years) and young adulthood (2 waves; 19-24 years). There was strong continuity across waves of both HED and delinquency, as well as across-time associations between them. Delinquent behaviour in adolescence was associated with up to twofold increases in the odds of HED at each subsequent adolescent wave. HED in the late teens was associated with over fourfold increases in the odds of persistent (two waves) HED in young adulthood. HED in the late teens was associated with increases in the odds of delinquent behaviour in young adulthood (over twofold for male and one and a half-fold for female participants). While delinquent behaviour predicts both future HED and future delinquent behaviour in adolescence, once young people reach the legal drinking age of 18 years, HED becomes a predictor of current and future delinquent behaviour and future HED, suggesting that increased access to alcohol increases the likelihood of young people engaging in delinquent behaviour. [Miller PG, Butler E, Richardson B, Staiger PK, Youssef GJ, Macdonald JA, Sanson A, Edwards B, Olsson CA. Relationships between problematic alcohol consumption and delinquent behaviour from adolescence to young adulthood. Drug Alcohol Rev 2016;35:317-325].

Perceived Discrimination and Heavy Episodic Drinking Among African-American Youth: Differences by Age and Reason for Discrimination

PurposeThe purpose of this study was to examine whether associations between perceived discrimination and heavy episodic drinking (HED) vary by age and by discrimination type (e.g., racial, age, physical appearance) among African-American youth. MethodsNational data from the Panel Study of Income Dynamics Transition to Adulthood Study were analyzed. Youth participated in up to four interviews (2005, 2007, 2009, 2011; n = 657) between ages 18 and 25 years. Respondents reported past-year engagement in HED (four or more drinks for females, five or more drinks for males) and frequency of discriminatory acts experienced (e.g., receiving poor service, being treated with less courtesy). Categorical latent growth curve models, including perceived discrimination types (racial, age, and physical appearance) as a time-varying predictors of HED, were run. Controls for gender, birth cohort, living arrangement in adolescence, familial wealth, parental alcohol use, and college attendance were explored. ResultsThe average HED trajectory was curvilinear (increasing followed by flattening), whereas perceived discrimination remained flat with age. In models including controls, odds of HED were significantly higher than average around ages 20–21 years with greater frequency of perceived racial discrimination; associations were not significant at other ages. Discrimination attributed to age or physical appearance was not associated with HED at any age. ConclusionsPerceived racial discrimination may be a particularly salient risk factor for HED around the ages of transition to legal access to alcohol among African-American youth. Interventions to reduce discrimination or its impact could be targeted before this transition to ameliorate the negative outcomes associated with HED.

Sports practices related to alcohol and tobacco use among high school students.

To examine the relationship between alcohol and tobacco use and sports in a national sample of secondary students. This cross-sectional study enrolled a representative sample of secondary students from public and private schools from all 27 Brazilian state capitals. Students were assessed in 2010 by a self-report questionnaire including questions on drug use and sport activity in the last month (n=13,872). Subjects who played sports exhibited a higher frequency of alcohol use and heavy episodic drinking than their peers who did not play sports. Practices that were associated with higher odds of heavy episodic drinking in the last month included gym, weight training (adjusted odds ratio [aOR]: 2.0, 95% confidence interval [95%CI] 1.6-2.4), and soccer (aOR: 1.3, 95%CI 1.1-1.5). Fighting, martial arts, or capoeira were associated with smoking (aOR: 1.9, 95%CI 1.2-3.2). These results suggest a relationship between some sports preferences and a higher risk of alcohol or tobacco use among Brazilian secondary students. This relationship should be considered in preventive programs.

Predictors of Heavy Episodic Drinking and Weekly Drunkenness Among Immigrant Latinos in North Carolina.

Few studies have examined correlates of heavy drinking among rural immigrant Latino men. This analysis identified correlates of typical week drunkenness and past 30-day heavy episodic drinking, within a sample of immigrant Latino men in rural North Carolina (n = 258). In the bivariate analyses, Mexican birth, entering the United States as an adult, and year-round employment were associated with increased odds of typical week drunkenness, and higher acculturation and affiliation with a religion with strict prohibitions against drinking alcohol were associated with lower odds of typical week drunkenness. Being older, Mexican birth, entering the United States as an adult, and lower acculturation were associated with increased odds of heavy episodic drinking, and affiliation with a religion with strict prohibitions against drinking alcohol and completing high school were associated with decreased odds of heavy episodic drinking. In multivariable modeling, only religious affiliation was associated with typical week drunkenness. Mexican birth, entering the United States as an adult, and lower acculturation were associated with increased odds of heavy episodic drinking, and affiliation with a religion with strict prohibitions against drinking alcohol and completing high school were associated with lower odds of heavy episodic drinking. The health of minority men in the United States has been neglected, and immigrant Latino men comprise a particularly vulnerable population. This analysis provides initial data on some factors associated with heavy drinking within a population about which little is known. Future studies should examine moderating or mediating factors between age, acculturation, religiosity, and heavy drinking that might be targets for behavioral interventions.

Age, period, and cohort effects in heavy episodic drinking in the US from 1985 to 2009

BackgroundEvaluating population-level patterns of heavy episodic drinking by age, period, and cohort is critical to understanding population-level influences on rates over time and to forecasting future trends for public health planning efforts. The present study examined trends in heavy episodic drinking in the US from 1985 through 2009 in a nationally representative sample that included adolescents and adults. MethodsData are drawn from repeated cross-sectional surveys of US households as part of the National Household Survey on Drug Use and Health conducted in 1985, 1988, and annually from 1990 though 2009, inclusive (N=809,281). Heavy episodic drinking was defined as any instance of consuming five or more drinks in one sitting in the past month. Age–period–cohort models were identified using the Intrinsic Estimator algorithm. ResultsHeavy episodic drinking is decreasing in the US among adolescents and young adults, with the most recently born cohorts (born in the 1990s) at lower odds of heavy episodic drinking compared with cohorts born in the 1960s, 1970s, and 1980s. Results were consistent across sex and race/ethnicity, with the exception that the decrease is not apparent among Hispanics. ConclusionsThese data are promising in that young cohorts appear to be reducing heavy episodic drinking, however the lack of decrease among Hispanics suggests targeted intervention and prevention as well as increased surveillance are necessary.

Free Alcohol Use and Consequences: Gender Differences Among Undergraduates

To examine gender differences in obtaining free alcohol, high-risk drinking, and consequences. Web-based surveys were administered annually (2003-2005) to random samples of undergraduates (N=10,729). Gender, race, age under 21, sorority/fraternity membership, lower disposable income, and relationship status were significant predictors of obtaining free alcohol. Frequent obtainers had greater odds of heavy episodic drinking and consequences compared to infrequent obtainers. Females were less likely to report heavy episodic drinking; however, frequently obtaining females were more likely to report heavy episodic drinking. Approximately 25% of undergraduates frequently obtained free alcohol. Females obtained more often, had higher odds of high-risk drinking, and experienced fewer consequences compared to males.

Heavy Episodic Drinking in the São Paulo Epidemiologic Catchment Area Study in Brazil: Gender and Sociodemographic Correlates

The aims of this study were to quantify heavy episodic drinking (HED) among adults living in two middle-class boroughs in the city of São Paulo, Brazil, and to estimate possible effects of gender, age, and other sociodemographic factors. Data were taken from the São Paulo Catchment Area Study. A representative sample (N = 1,464) of the adult population living in households was assessed through Composite International Diagnostic Interview Version 1.1. The pattern of lifetime and last-12-month alcohol consumption was evaluated. HED was defined as consuming five or more drinks per drinking day for men and four or more drinks per drinking day for women. Prevalence rates and sociodemographic correlates were examined separately for men and women. The overall 12-month prevalence of HED in this sample was 10.7%, with 15.4% of the men and 7.2% of the women reporting HED. Lifetime overall abstinence was 22.2%, with 32.4% of the women and 8.7% of the men being lifetime abstainers. The odds of HED among women were increased for those between 18 and 44 years of age and for those who were not married (separated, divorced, widowed, and never married). Among men the risk was increased for those between 18 and 24 years of age. HED is a common pattern of drinking in this sample, mainly in young men. Among women, HED is not confined to the younger groups. Future studies are needed to assess the impact of HED on physical health, mental health, and social functioning.