A Prospective Study of the Association Between Smoking and Later Alcohol Drinking in the General Population

Aims: To address the possible prospective association between smoking habits and risk of later heavy drinking in the adult population.

Design: Pooled population-based long-term cohort studies with repeated assessments of smoking and alcohol habits.

Setting: Copenhagen, Denmark.

Participants: A total of 14,130 non- to moderate drinkers at baseline, who attended re-examination.

Measurements: Among the non- to moderate drinkers we addressed the relation between smoking habits at first examination and the risk of becoming a heavy and excessive drinker at follow-up.

Findings: Level of tobacco consumption at first examination predicted an increased risk of becoming a heavy and excessive drinker in a dose-dependent manner. Men who smoked more than 25 g of tobacco per day had adjusted odds ratios of 2.12 (95% confidence interval (CI): 1.44-3.11) and 3.95 (95% CI: 1.93-8.95) for becoming heavy and excessive drinkers, compared to participants who had never smoked. Equivalent estimates among women were 1.76 (95% CI: 1.02-3.04) and 2.21 (95% CI: 1.00-4.58), respectively.

Conclusions: This study suggests that tobacco use is associated quantitatively with later risk of heavier drinking.