High-risk drinking is now particularly prevalent among men in their 50s and women in their 30s. (Image courtesy of Yonhap)
SEOUL, Oct. 31 (Korea Bizwire) – The percentage of high-risk drinkers, who consume a significant amount of liquor more than twice a week, has decreased among men but increased among women. High-risk drinking is now particularly prevalent among men in their 50s and women in their 30s.
On Monday, the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency (KDCA) released an in-depth report on alcohol consumption trends among adults and vulnerable groups, based on data from the National Health and Nutrition Survey over the past decade.
According to the report, the high-risk drinking rate among men decreased from 25.1 percent in 2012 to 23.6 percent in 2021, while the rate among women increased from 7.9 percent to 8.9 percent. High-risk drinking is defined as men consuming more than seven glasses of soju or whiskey, and women consuming more than five glasses of soju or whiskey, on more than two occasions per week. When it comes to beer, 350 ml is counted as 1.5 glasses.
In 2021, the latest year covered by the survey, men in their 50s exhibited the highest high-risk drinking rate at 29.8 percent. Among women, those in their 30s had the highest high-risk rate at 13.2 percent.
The monthly alcohol binge rate, which denotes individuals who drink more than seven glasses (for men) or five glasses (for women) at least once a month, decreased from 61.7 percent to 56 percent for men, while women showed no significant change, increasingly slightly to 31.1 percent from 31 percent.
The continuous high-risk drinking rate, which considers drinking more than five glasses (for men) or three glasses (for women) on four or more occasions per week, saw minor fluctuations around 10 percent for men and around 3 percent for women.
In 2021, men in their 60s had the highest continuous high-risk drinking rate at 15.7 percent, while women in their 30s had the highest rate at 5.7 percent.
For men, the percentage of those who said they both smoke and drink decreased from 36.2 percent in 2012 to 28.1 percent in 2021. Among women, this rate increased to 6.1 percent in 2018 from 5.4 percent in 2012 and then decreased to 5.5 percent in 2021.
M. H. Lee (mhlee@koreabizwire.com)
