Prevalence, Drinking Patterns and Self-reported Alcohol-Related Harms in a Semi-Urban Indian Community: A Cross-Sectional Survey
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.70066/jahm.v14i8.2995Keywords:
Alcohol use, Binge drinking, Community survey, Drinking habits, Holistic medicine, Prevention.Abstract
Background and Aims: Alcohol use and its psycho-social and functional complications pose a major global public health challenge. This Public Health Initiative, sponsored by the Ministry of AYUSH, Government of India, surveyed the prevalence of alcohol use, drinking patterns, self-reported harms and indicators of problematic use in a semi-urban Indian community.
Materials and Methods: A community-based, cross-sectional, door-to-door survey was conducted among residents aged 10–90 years over 10 days. Of 32,568 eligible individuals, 20,000 were interviewed (response rate 61.4%) by 61 trained interviewers. Consecutive household enumeration was used, with no sampling frame, random starting point or probability-based selection. Of the 20,000 participants, 1,946 reported lifetime alcohol use. Data were collected using a custom composite questionnaire adapted from MAST and AUDIT together with study-specific questions. The instrument was reviewed by experts for clarity and content validity but was not formally validated, and standard scoring systems and cut-off values were not applied. Interviews were face-to-face in the local language. Missing data were handled by complete-case analysis, and prevalence is reported with 95% confidence intervals (CIs).
Results: Of the 20,000 respondents, 1,946 (9.7%, 95% CI 9.3–10.2) reported lifetime alcohol use and 974 (4.9%, 95% CI 4.6–5.2) reported consumption in the last week. Among lifetime consumers, 36.3% (95% CI 34.2–38.5) drank regularly and 63.7% (95% CI 61.5–65.8) occasionally; binge drinking occurred in 13.0% (95% CI 11.6–14.6). Health issues, psychological guilt, financial distress and interpersonal violence were reported by 19.3% (95% CI 17.6–21.1), 18.6% (95% CI 16.9–20.4), 15.8% (95% CI 14.3–17.5) and 15.9% (95% CI 14.3–17.6), respectively. Self-reported dependence-like behavior was observed in 67.9% (95% CI 65.8–69.9), whereas only 15.7% (95% CI 14.2–17.4) had sought professional help to quit.
Conclusion: These findings highlight the need for accessible, non-stigmatizing community-level screening and de-addiction services.
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