CHART OF THE MONTH

Reading: In men and women, and in the 18-24 group even more than in the 25-30 group, the risk of excessive drinking increased with high educational attainment. In young men aged 18-24, 7% of those who were less qualified were chronic excessive drinkers (including dependence) and 35% episodic excessive drinkers, with these risks peaking among university graduates (18% and 55% respectively). In young women of the same age, episodic excessive drinking increased from 9% in less educated women to 37% in highly qualified women, with chronic risk being rare. At this age, students have a more moderate profile than those who have finished their studies, the difference being very marked for men. In the 25-30 group, these risk gradients persist for both men and women, although chronic risk decreased for men and almost disappears for women. At any age, the difference between men and women is very significant, with men having about twice the risk of excessive drinking than women.

Scope: France (except Guyana and Mayotte), population aged 16 or over.

Sources: EHIS-ESPS Survey 2014 (IRDES).

Taken from Com-Ruelle L. and Choquet M. "Alcohol Consumption in Young Adults: a Higher Overall Risk of Excessive Alcohol Consumption in Men and an Increasing Risk of Heavy Episodic Drinking in Women", IRDES, Issues in Health Economics (265), January 2022.