In order to investigate drinking problems in rural districts, we conducted a questionnaire in 8 rural areas (Obihiro, Tsuchiura, Shizuoka, Hiroshima, Yamaguchi, Tokushima, Ehime, and Kagoshima).
The questionnaire was conducted on 2024 males. The average age of them is 51 years. And about half of them are farmers. Others are clerical workers, managerial officers, skilled laborers, fishermen and so on.
According to KAST (Kurihama Alcoholism Screening Test) included in the questionnaire, the proportion of severe problem drinkers is about 17%.
Many problem drinkers drink almost everyday. And in general, their consumption of alcohol is 60cc/day or more.
Many drinkers replied that they drink “to get rid of stress”, “on business”, “with friends”, “to sleep well”.
In comparison with normal drinkers, problem drinkers tend to drink both in and out of their home. They also tend to drink more frequently out of their home. Their rules on health in regard to alcohol are not so different from those of normal drinkers, but in general, they don't practice those rules. Their estimate of their proper quantity of alcohol is higher than that of normal drinkers.

In Japan there are many people who are intolerant to alcohol. Known as flushers, they do not genetically have low Km acetaldehyde dehydrogenase (AlDH₂). Flushers are judged easily and accurately by the alcohol patch test. An ethanol patch test carried out on agricultural and fishing populations in Japan showed that approx. 40% were deficient in AlDH₂. A questionnaire survey of the drinking behavior of many people showed significant differences between the normal AlDH₂ and AlDH₂-deficient groups. The normal group drinks positively and actively, while the deficient group drinks negatively and passively. As a result, there were significant differences in subjective and objective symptoms that result from drinking between the two groups: More frequent hangovers, abnormal physical conditions and higher KAST scores were seen in the normal group, and health examination showed higher values in liver function tests, including γ-GTP, and higher levels of blood pressure, HDL-cholesterol (HDL-C), etc., in the normal AlDH₂group.
It may be very useful for prevention of alcohol-related health disorders to help Mongoloid peoples, such as the Japanese, recognize whether their AlDH₂ is normal or deficient, which is as determined by the ethanol patch test.