Pattern of Alcohol Consumption among Adults in Bareilly District

Alcohol consumption is a major public health problem in most parts of the world, responsible for 3.2 per cent of deaths (1.8 million) and four per cent of the disability-adjusted life years (DALYS, 58.3 million) lost. The 32World Health Assembly declared that “Problems related to alcohol and particularly to its excessive consumption rank among the world's major public health problems and constitute serious hazards for human health, welfare and life”.

A community based cross sectional study was done in the areas of UHTC and RHTC of RMC&H, Bareilly in one year and in individuals aged 18 yrs & above. In a sample of 260 individual a stratified random sampling was used (Whole sample was stratified in rural (130) and urban (130).The data was collected using pretested, predesigned schedule and was analyzed using Epi-Info (7.1.0).

Overall, the prevalence of current alcohol use was found to be 36.92% with mean age of initiation was found to be 23.55 years. Prevalence of current alcohol use was more among males (26.15%) as compared to that in females (10.70%). The mean frequency of consumption of alcohol per month was found to be 5.16. Average amount of consumption on single occasion (ml) was more in male (183.68) than females (96.32).Knowledge regarding health hazardous of alcohol consumption was more in males (58.46%) than in females (31.92%).

Prevalence of current alcohol use was more among males that in females and also the average amount of consumption of alcohol on single occasion were more in male than females. This shows that males are consuming more alcohol than female and are at risk of developing disease even being more aware of the hazards of alcohol.