Drinking patterns and drinking-related benefits, harm and victimization experiences: reports from community-based general population surveys

Abstract

This paper focuses on relationships between various measures of drinking and self-reported adverse and positive experiences related to drinking. It uses data collected in three Ontario communities in 1994 from a combined representative sample of 3,000 adults age 18 and over. The relationships between drinking patterns and consequences are examined by using the drinkers’ own causal attributions. We use different independent variables to calculate consumption, and we explore relationships between these drinking patterns and self-reported positive or negative consequences of drinking—including minor to more serious adverse or “victimization” experiences related to others’ drinking. We also provide commentary on the relative merits of using different drinking measures to understand drinking-related experiences. Multiple regression models are developed for three different predictions: perceived benefits of the respondent's own drinking; harm due to one's own drinking; and “victimization” experiences resulting from drinking by others.