 | The 131st Annual Meeting (November 15-19, 2003) of APHA |
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| The 131st Annual Meeting (November 15-19, 2003) of APHA |
Tammy W. Tam, PhD and Thomas K. Greenfield, PhD. Alcohol Research Group, Public Health Institute, 2000 Hearst Avenue Suite 300, Berkeley, CA 94709, 510 642 5208, ttam@arg.org
High alcohol content malt liquor sales has undergone an unprecedented growth during the last decade. The expansion was fueled by intensified promotional efforts aimed at young urban ethnic minorities. Asian American is a rapidly growing and relatively youthful population. Yet, very little information on malt liquor use among Asian Americans is available to researchers. This study analyzed the 2000 National Alcohol Survey (n=7,612), a RDD telephone survey of 50 states and DC, to examine profiles of Asian American malt liquor drinkers. Preliminary analyses showed that the proportions of regular malt liquor consumption (defined as more than once in a while) reported by beer drinkers were highest among Asians (18%), followed by blacks (17%), American Indians (16%), Hispanics (11%), and whites (6%). Filipinos and Asian Indians were over-represented among Asian malt liquor drinkers. Bivariate analyses revealed that Asian Americans who used malt liquor were more likely to be born outside of the U.S., younger, and not married when compared to other beer drinkers. They also reported higher proportions of heavy alcohol use (5 or more beers in a day) and dependence symptoms. These preliminary findings suggest that malt liquor use is associated with frequent heavy drinking and alcohol-related problems. Prevention efforts to curtail heavy alcohol use should pay attention to the potential effects of the aggressive marketing practices on Asian American youths as well as the differential drinking patterns and alcoholic beverage preferences across Asian ethnic groups.
Learning Objectives:
Presenting author's disclosure statement:
I do not have any significant financial interest/arrangement or affiliation with any organization/institution whose products or services are being discussed in this session.