Evolution of the prevalence of alcohol consumption and characterization of hazardous consumption in Spain: 2005–2022

Abstract

Background and objective

The objectives of this study were to analyze the evolution of the prevalence of alcohol consumption between 2005 and 2022, to estimate the prevalence of hazardous alcohol consumption in 2022, and to characterize hazardous consumers.

Materials and methods

Microdata from 9 editions of the EDADES survey were used. Prevalences of alcohol consumption were estimated overall, by sex and age group between 2005 and 2022. Additionally, the prevalence of hazardous alcohol consumption at the national level and in the autonomous communities was determined in 2022. Trend analysis was performed by applying joinpoint regression models and a multivariate logistic regression model was fitted to characterize hazardousconsumers.

Results

The trend in the prevalence of alcohol consumption was found to be stable for lifetime, past 12 months, and past 30 days consumption, while a decreasing trend was observed for daily consumption. In 2022, 6.5% (95%CI: 6.1–6.9) of the Spanish population aged 15–64 years had risky alcohol consumption. This prevalence ranged from 13.1% (95%CI: 11.2–15.3) in the Region of Murcia to 2.9% (95%CI: 1.9–4.3) in Cantabria. The use of cannabis in the last year was the variable with the highest OR for hazardous alcohol consumption overall, in men and in women (OR > 2.7).

Conclusions

The prevalence of alcohol consumption in Spain is high and its trend is stable. The use of other drugs such as tobacco or cannabis increases the odds of having a hazardous alcohol consumption.