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Per capita alcohol consumption and all‐cause mortality in Canada, 1950–98
Author(s) -
Norström Thor
Publication year - 2004
Publication title -
addiction
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.424
H-Index - 193
eISSN - 1360-0443
pISSN - 0965-2140
DOI - 10.1111/j.1360-0443.2004.00849.x
Subject(s) - per capita , demography , alcohol consumption , consumption (sociology) , proxy (statistics) , alcohol , environmental health , public health , population , mortality rate , medicine , statistics , mathematics , biology , biochemistry , social science , nursing , sociology
Aims To estimate the relationship between per capita alcohol consumption and male all‐cause mortality in Canada. Data and method The outcome measure comprised annual data on male all‐cause mortality for the period 1950–98. Alcohol sales (in litres 100% alcohol) were used as proxy for per capita consumption. The data were analysed using the Box–Jenkins technique. Two models were estimated, one including only female mortality as control, the other in addition cigarette sales. Results The first model yielded a significant alcohol effect that implied a 2.9%[standadrd error (SE) = 0.6%] increase in mortality given a 1‐litre increase in consumption. This estimate coincides with that obtained for northern Europe in previous research. When cigarette sales were included in the model the alcohol effect was still statistically significant but markedly reduced, to 1.7% (SE = 0.6%). Conclusions Total mortality is a classic indicator of the general health status of the population. Its relationship with per capita consumption of alcohol supports the view that total consumption is a concern for public health.