West German Drinking Patterns in 1984 and 1990

Basic drinking patterns are examined with regard to sociodemographic correlates for the years 1984/1986 and 1990/1992 by a secondary analysis of data from representative samples of the former West German general population. Data come from the National Health Survey of the German Cardiovascular Prevention Study in which the former West German non-institutionalized general population aged 25-69 years was sampled through multistage probability methods. In 1984, 91% of West Germans were drinkers, 16% were daily drinkers, and 8% consumed a mean of 60 g or more of ethanol per day. These figures decreased slightly but significantly by 1990. Despite a downward trend in consumption between 1984 and 1990, Germany remains a 'wet' culture.