Patterns of binge drinking, alcohol abuse and dependence among Hong Kong Chinese adults

Background: Globalization is likely to have influenced patterns of problem drinking in populations with traditionally low alcohol consumption levels. Methods: A random telephone survey was conducted on 9860 Hong Kong Chinese between the ages of 18-70 years. Results: The age-adjusted prevalence was 14.4% for binge drinking, 5.3% for alcohol abuse and 2.3% for alcohol dependence among males and the corresponding prevalence rates were 3.6%, 1.4% and 0.7% for females. The younger age groups showed the highest prevalence of these drinking problems. Among male binge drinkers, 18.7% reported alcohol abuse and 12.3% reported alcohol dependence whereas among female binge drinkers, 16% reported alcohol abuse and 9.9% reported dependence. Among males, bingers were more likely to be a smoker and less likely to be retired, unemployed, a student, and > 40 years of age. Alcohol abuse among men was higher among those 21-30 years of age, divorced/widowed/separated respondents and smokers and lower among the retired. Alcohol dependence was associated with being a current smoker among males. Among females, binge drinking was lower among those over 60 year old and married women but was higher among smokers. Alcohol abuse among females was inversely associated with being a student or housewife and strongly associated with being a smoker. The likelihood of alcohol dependence was lower among married women but markedly higher among smokers. Conclusions: Smoking and alcohol consumption showed strong behavioral interlinkages. The large increase in problem drinking in younger age groups portends a changing pattern of alcohol consumption with increased Westernization in China.