Trends from 1990 to 2010 in percentages of US men and women who exceed low-risk drinking guideline

Background We examined trends in risk drinking, defined as exceeding NIAAA and FDA low-risk drinking guidelines, using 20-year data from 5 National Alcohol Surveys 1990-2010. The US face-to-face (1990, 1995) and telephone (2000, 2005 and 2010) adult (age 18+) samples included 12,869 men, 16,614 women (Mean survey sizes 2,574 men, 3,323 women). Results For men there was little change in population percent (about 12%) exceeding the weekly guideline (> 14 drinks) but for the daily guideline, from 1990 (37.4%) through 2005 (30.8%) a significant reduction (p < .01) reported 5+ drinking, increasing to 34.1% in 2010. In 1990 39.4%, while in 2010 35.9% of the male population exceeded either guideline (33.2% in 2005). For women, available data required setting exceeding the daily guideline conservatively at the 5+ level (as for men). Percentages exceeding the daily level varied over time: the high in 1995 was 16.2%, the 2000 and 2005 lows each 12.6% and again high in 2010 at 14.1%. The percentage of women exceeding the weekly guideline (> 7 drinks/week) showed a U shape (p < .01), higher in 1990 (9.6%) and 2005/2010 (9.8%/10.2%) and lower in between in 1995/2000 (8.4%/7.7%). The percentage of women exceeding either guideline was lowest in 2000, 16.0%, growing to 18.4% by 2010. Conclusions Population risky drinking for men dropped somewhat but is again increasing: 36% by 2010. Women's risky drinking conservatively estimated is also high and rising: 18% by 2010. We need urgently to study how to disseminate effective messages about low-risk guidelines.