Patterns of drinking in the UK Armed Forces

• Published in: Addiction (Abingdon, England) England), 2007-11, Vol.102 (11), p.1749-1759
• Main Authors: Fear, Nicola T., Iversen, Amy, Meltzer, Howard, Workman, Lorna, Hull, Lisa, Greenberg, Neil, Barker, Christopher, Browne, Tess, Earnshaw, Mark, Horn, Oded, Jones, Margaret, Murphy, Dominic, Rona, Roberto J., Hotopf, Matthew, Wessely, Simon
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Addictive behaviors; Adult; Adult and adolescent clinical studies; Alcohol; Alcohol abuse; Alcohol consumption; Alcohol Drinking - adverse effects; Alcohol Drinking - psychology; Alcohol use; Alcoholism; Armed Forces; AUDIT; Biological and medical sciences; Consumption; Cross-sectional analysis; Demographics; Drinking Behavior; Drinks; Drug addiction; Female; Gender differences; Gender studies; general population; Humans; Male; Medical sciences; Middle Aged; Military forces; Military Personnel; Military Personnel - psychology; Miscellaneous; Psychology. Psychoanalysis. Psychiatry; Psychometrics - statistics & numerical data; Psychopathology. Psychiatry; Public health. Hygiene; Public health. Hygiene-occupational medicine; Questionnaires; Sex Distribution; Social research; socio-demographic characteristics; Soldiers; Surveys and Questionnaires; Toxicology; United Kingdom
• ISSN: 0965-2140; 1360-0443
• DOI: 10.1111/j.1360-0443.2007.01978.x

ABSTRACT Aims  To examine patterns of drinking in the UK Armed Forces, how they vary according to gender and other demographics, and to make comparisons with the general population. Design  Large cross‐sectional postal questionnaire study (response rate 60%). Setting  United Kingdom. Participants  A random representative sample of the regular UK Armed Forces who were in service in March 2003 (n = 8686; 7937 men, 749 women). Comparisons were made with the general population of Great Britain. Measurements  Alcohol consumption was assessed using the Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test (AUDIT). Findings  Sixty‐seven per cent of men and 49% of women in the UK Armed Forces had an AUDIT score of 8+ (defined as hazardous drinking), compared to 38% of men and 16% of women in the general population. In both sexes, for all ages, the military have a higher prevalence of hazardous drinking. Binge drinking was associated with being younger, being in the Army, being single, being a smoker and being white. Among military men, heavy drinking (AUDIT score 16+) was associated with holding a lower rank, being younger, being single, being in the Naval Service or Army, being deployed to Iraq, not having children, being a smoker, having a combat role and having a parent with a drink or drug problem. Conclusions  Excessive alcohol consumption is more common in the UK Armed Forces than in the general population. There are certain socio‐demographic characteristics associated with heavy drinking within the military; for example, young age, being single and being a smoker, which may allow the targeting of preventive interventions.