Drinking status* (in percents) of men and women by selected demographics: 
NHIS, 1985

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Characteristic   Abstainer   Former    Current   Heavier Drinker
                              Drinker   Drinker   (Among Current
                                                     Drinkers)
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Total
 Men                   14         9          76         17
 Women                 38         6          56          5

Age
18-29 Years
 Men                   15         3          82         16
 Women                 32         3          65          4
30-44 Years
 Men                   11         6          83         17
 Women                 32         5          63          4
45-64 Years
 Men                   14        14          72         18
 Women                 39         8          53          7
65 years and older
 Men                   22        20          58         18
 Women                 56        10          35          8

Race
White
 Men                   13         9          78         17
 Women                 36         6          58          5
Black
 Men                   21        11          67         14
 Women                 52         6          41          4
Other
 Men                   34         5          61         16
 Women                 61         4          35          5

Hispanic Origin
 Men                   23         7          71         16
 Women                 52         5          43          6

Education
Under 12 years
 Men                   22        17          62         20
 Women                 56         9          35          6
12 years
 Men                   14         8          78         18
 Women                 36         6          58          5
More than 12 years
 Men                   11         5          84         15
 Women                 27         4          69          5

Family Income
Less than $20,000
 Men                   18        13          69         18
 Women                 46         8          46          5
$20,000 - $24,999
 Men                   15         8          77         16
 Women                 35         6          59          5
$25,000 - $34,999
 Men                   12         8          80         16
 Women                 33         6          61          4
$35,000 - $49,999
 Men                   10         6          84         17
 Women                 27         4          69          5
$50,000 and over
 Men                    9         4          87         19
 Women                 20         3          76          7

Currently Employed
 Men                   13         7          80         17
 Women                 31         5          65          5

Region
Northeast
 Men                   13         7          80         18
 Women                 32         6          62          5
Midwest
 Men                   12         8          80         16
 Women                 33         6          61          5
South
 Men                   18        12          69         16
 Women                 49         6          45          5
West
 Men                   13         8          79         19
 Women                 32         6          62          6
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Source: Unpublished data from the Health Promotion and Disease
        Prevention Questionnaire of the 1985 National Health
        Interview Survey, National Center for Health Statistics.

* Abstainer defined as a person who drinks less than 12 drinks per year or
  a former drinker who has not had a drink in over a year: light drinker
  drinks up to .21 oz. of ethanol daily (up to 3 drinks per week); moderate
  drinker drinks between .22 and .99 oz. of ethanol daily (4 to 13 drinks
  per week); heavier drinker consumes 1 or more oz. of ethanol daily
  (2 drinks or more a day).

Note: Weighted data.  Excludes missing data.