Alcohol consumption [g/day]
In the postal questionnaire, the frequency of consumption of beer,
wine and spirits, and the usual amount of each alcohol drink per
one drinking occasion were asked (Table 1).
The alcohol portions were turned into measures of volume as follows:
one bottle of beer, cider or long drink 333 ml (1/3 l), one glass
of wine 160 ml, and one measure of spirits 40 ml. The amounts were
calculated using averages and approximations, e.g. 6-9 bottles
was considered to be 7.5 (Table 2). The following alcohol contents
(Vol-%) were applied: for beer 4.8, for light-wine 5.0, for wine 14.5,
and for spirits 37 (Poikolainen and Vartiainen 1997). One millilitre
of alcohol weighs 0.816 g, and the amount of pure alcohol [g]
consumed at a time was calculated to be
Volume [ml]
x
Vol-%
x
0.816 [g/ml].
For each type of drink, the frequency of alcohol use was proportioned
to 365 days (Table 3). The average amount of pure alcohol [g/day]
was calculated to be
Pure alcohol [g] at a time
x
Frequency of alcohol use [1/day].
Finally, the alcohol amounts calculated for different types of drinks
were added together to obtain the total amount of pure alcohol
consumed per day (variable Alksaant).
The amount
alcohol or
if one has
noticed in
of alcohol was set to zero for those who have never used
have given up using it (question 70: 1 and 2). However,
still filled questions 71-78, the answers have been
the calculations.
- Ulla Sovio, instructions: Jaana Laitinen Reference
Poikolainen, K., Vartiainen, E. (1997): Determinants of gammaglutamyltransferase: positive interaction with alcohol and body mass
index, negative association with coffee.
American Journal of Epidemiology 146:1019-24.
Table 1. Alcohol consumption in the postal questionnaire.
70. Do you use any alcoholic drinks, even occasionally?
(e.g. beer, cider, light wines, wines or spirits)
1
I have never used
2
No, because I quit using alcohol __ years ago
3
Yes, less than once a month
4
Yes, at least once a month
71. How often do you usually drink beer (IVA or III), cider or long-drinks?
1
never
2
once a year or more seldom
3
twice a year
4
3-4 times per year
5
about once in two months
6
7
8
9
10
about once a month
two times a month
about once a week
a few times a week
daily
72. How much do you usually drink beer (IVA or III), cider or long drinks
at a time?
1
less than one bottle
2
1 bottle
3
2 bottles
4
3 bottles
5
4-5 bottles
6
6-9 bottles
7
10-14 bottles
8
15 bottles or more
9
I do not drink these drinks
73. How often do you usually drink light wine (alcohol content 5%)?
1
never
2
once a year or more seldom
3
twice a year
4
3-4 times a year
5
about once in two months
6
about once a month
7
two times a month
8
about once a week
9
a few times a week
10
daily
74. How much do you usually drink light wine at a time?
1
half a glass
2
one glass (=16 cl)
3
two glasses
4
about half a bottle (1 bottle=0.75 l)
5
a little less than one bottle
6
about one bottle
7
from one to two bottles
8
more than two bottles
9
I do not drink wine
75. How often do you usually drink wine (light, strong, homemade)?
1
never
2
once a year or more seldom
3
twice a year
4
3-4 times a year
5
about once in two months
6
about once a month
7
two times a month
8
about once a week
9
a few times a week
10
daily
76. How much do you usually drink wine (light, strong, homemade) at a time?
1
half a glass
2
one glass (=16 cl)
3
two glasses
4
about half a bottle (1 bottle=0.75 l)
5
a little less than one bottle
6
about one bottle
7
from one to two bottles
8
9
more than two bottles
I do not drink wine
77. How often do you usually drink spirits?
1
never
2
once a year or more seldom
3
twice a year
4
3-4 times a year
5
about once in two months
6
about once a month
7
two times a month
8
about once a week
9
a few times a week
10
daily
78. How much do you usually drink spirits at a time?
1
less than one restaurant measure (less than 4 cl)
2
one restaurant measure (4 cl)
3
two restaurant measures
4
3-4 restaurant measures
5
5-6 restaurant measures
6
7-10 restaurant measures
7
about half a litre bottle
8
more than a half litre bottle
9
I do not drink spirits
Table 2. The amount of alcohol per drinking occasion in millilitres.
Beer, cider, long drink
less than one bottle = 167 ml (1/6 l)
1 bottle = 333 ml (1/3 l)
2 bottles = 666 ml (2/3 l)
3 bottles = 1000 ml
4-5 bottles = 1500 ml
6-9 bottles = 2500 ml
10-14 bottles = 4000 ml
15 bottles or more = 5000 ml
Wine
half a glass = 80 ml
one glass =160 ml
two glasses = 320 ml
about half a bottle = 375 ml
a little less than one bottle = 575 ml
about one bottle = 750 ml
from one to two bottles = 1125 ml
more than two bottles = 1875 ml
Spirits
less than one restaurant measure = 20 ml
one restaurant measure = 40 ml
two restaurant measures = 80 ml
3-4 restaurant measures = 140 ml
5-6 restaurant measures = 220 ml
7-10 restaurant measures = 340 ml
about half a litre bottle = 500 ml
more than a half litre bottle = 750 ml
Table 3. Frequencies of alcohol use proportioned to 365 days.
never = 0
once a year or more seldom = 1/365
twice a year = 2/365
3-4 times a year = 3.5/365
about once in two months = 6/365
about once a month = 12/365
a few times a month = 24/365
about once a week = 52/365
a few times a week = 182/365
daily = 1