Alcohol consumption levels of persons 18 years of age and over,
according to sex, United States, selected years, 1971-1988.

---------------------------------------------------------------
                             Drinking Level[1]
                   ------------------------------------------
Sex and year       Abstain     Light     Moderate     Heavier
---------------------------------------------------------------
Both sexes
 1988                43         30          19           8
 1983                39         30          21          10
 1979                33         34          24           9
 1976                33         38          19          10
 1975                36         31          21          12
 1974                36         28          28          11
 1973                34         29          23          14
 1971                36         34          20          10

Male
 1988                32         30          25          13
 1983                28         28          28          16
 1979                25         29          31          14
 1976                26         33          24          18
 1975                27         27          26          20
 1974                24         24          34          18
 1973                25         24          29          22
 1971                30         29          26          15

Female
 1988                53         30          14           3
 1983                50         30          15           4
 1979                40         38          18           4
 1976                39         44          15           3
 1975                45         35          15           4
 1974                42         32          21           5
 1973                42         35          17           6
 1971                42         40          13           5

---------------------------------------------------------------

Notes. Data for 1971-79 are from NIAAA's National Survey on
       Drinking.  Data for 1983 and 1988 are from the National
       Health Interview Survey, National Center for Health
       Statistics.

[1] Drinking levels defined in ounces of absolute alcohol
    (ethanol) consumed per day on average as follows:
    abstain, less than 0.01; light, 0.01-0.21; moderate,
    0.22-0.99; heavier, 1.00 or more.

Sources: Clark, W.B.; Midanik, L.; and Knupfer, G.  Report on
         the 1979 National Survey, University of California.
         Contract No. ADM 281-77-0021.  Prepared for NIAAA,
         (December 1981) and Department of Health and Human
         Services.  Health United States, 1991, p. 209,
         Pub. No. (PHS) 92-1232 (May 1992).