From Occasional Consumption to Alcohol Abuse: Quantifying the Socio-economic Determinants in Argentina

Abstract

Per capita alcohol consumption in Argentina is higher than the world and the Americas average, being relevant in both moderate as well as abusive consumption categories. For this reason, this study concentrates in the socio-economic determinants of alcoholic beverages consumption, jointly analyzing different categories: abstinence, occasional, moderate, excessive and abusive consumption. A Generalized Ordered Logistic model is estimated with categories modelled according to their different individual and household socio-economic and demographic characteristics. Data come from the 2008 and 2011 National Survey on Substance Use. Results show that most variables are statistically significant, with differential effects, according to the category considered. Whereas income and working hours are positively associated with all alcohol consumption categories, education and the absence of some indicator of unsatisfied basic needs (UBN) increase the probabilities of occasional and moderate consumption, decreasing heavy drinking patterns. Considering the socioeconomic status as a single index, the results are in line with these latest findings.