An Analysis of the Sociodemographic Context of Alcohol Use in the Czech Adult Populationfrom the Health Perspective

Overview

Background.
WHO 2002 Report finds alcohol use to have mostly detrimental effects on the human health, onlysome patterns of use being beneficial. This study analyzes patterns of alcohol use in the Czech adult populationaccording to region, urbanization, gender, age, and education.Methods andResults. Asample of 1224men and 1282women (aged 18–64), representative for the Czech populationof this age, was interviewed. Frequencies of beer, wine and spirit use, usual quantities per occasion, and the frequencyof consuming ≥75 g alcohol at a single occasion were ascertained. Results showed that 33 % men and 14 % womenconsume alcohol in a way hazardous for health, i.e. with a daily average >40 g (men), >20 g (women), or withperiodicus e of ≥75 g at a single occasion. Only 6 % men and 2 % women adhere to a consumption pattern withsupposed cardio-protective effects, i.e. at least each other day, in low/moderate quantity and without periodic binges.The health risk form of use in men is age related with the climax at 35–44 (p

Key words:
alcohol use hazardous for health, gender, education.