OBJECTIVETo understand the status and trend of alcohol consumption among adult people living in 9 provinces (autonomous region) of China from 1993 to 2006.

METHODSThe data was collected at the China Health and Nutrition Survey in 1993, 1997, 2000, 2004 and 2006, the subjects with complete drinking data of adult residents were involved. The sample of subjects were 7994, 8625, 9283, 9780 and 9746 among 5 round surveys respectively. Alcohol intake, drinking frequency, drinking type, drinking amount and trends of changing was analyzed.

RESULTSThe average drinking rates were 60.2% (13 201/21 919) and 9.7% (2269/23 509) among male and female respectively. The average alcohol intake was (32.2 ± 35.6) g in male and (14.0 ± 19.4) g in female drinkers. Male drinkers with primary and secondary schools or below education had the lowest level of drinking rate, which was 59.7% (985/1651), 58.7% (941/1604), 57.0% (889/1560), 55.4% (885/1599) and 53.1% (812/1529) in the 5 round surveys respectively. However, the average daily alcohol intake was the highest, which was (31.1 ± 38.2) g, (39.8 ± 42.1) g, (38.9 ± 41.3) g and (38.4 ± 43.3) g at 1997, 2000, 2004, 2006 respectively. The male drinkers with college or above education had the lowest alcohol intake, which was (21.9 ± 24.5) g, (28.8 ± 30.9) g, (24.6 ± 22.0) g and (25.0 ± 26.4) g in 1997, 2000, 2004 and 2006 respectively. Female drinkers with college or above education had the highest drinking rate, which was 21.0% (13/62), 24.5% (26/106), 16.6% (27/163), 19.7% (38/193) and 18.8% (46/245) at 5 round surveys respectively. But their average daily alcohol intake was lowest, which was (4.7 ± 3.3) g, (12.5 ± 31.9) g, (9.9 ± 18.7) g and (8.2 ± 8.5) g at 1997, 2000, 2004, 2006 respectively. And the average daily alcohol intake was the highest among female drinkers with primary and secondary schools or below education, which was (13.4 ± 16.9) g, (16.3 ± 22.4) g, (19.9 ± 26.1) g and (16.4 ± 18.0) g respectively. According to the regional distribution, the highest drinking rate of female drinker was occurred at urban female, which was 17.4% (110/631), 19.9% (147/740), 17.4% (129/741), 14.4% (117/814) and 11.3% (88/781) at 5 round surveys. Drinking every day was most popular in male drinkers, the proportion was 32.6% (3533/10 844). Drinking 1 to 2 times per week, 1 to 2 times per month, no more than 1 time per month was most popular in female drinkers, the proportion was 23.0% (410/1786), 24.6% (440/1786) and 21.2% (379/1786) respectively. Male drinkers liked liquor more (drinking rate was 81.8%, 8875/10 844). The wine drinking rate of female (22.3%, 399/1786) is far higher than that of male's (9.0%, 976/10 844) (χ(2) = 280.4, P < 0.01). The daily alcohol intake equal to or greater than 25 g of male drinkers was 42.0% (4058/9654), and the daily alcohol intake equal to or greater than 15 g of female drinkers was 25.3% (349/1378).

CONCLUSIONThe drinking rate of adults among 9 provinces (autonomous region) was higher than that of national average level. The drinking rate and the average alcohol consumption among male and female was significantly different. Same differences was observed among education level and different regions.