Background: To examine whether the decline in alcohol consumption among moderate drinkers, which has occurred in Spain in the period 1987-1993, has been associated with changes in the proportion of heavy drinkers and abstainers.
Subjects and methods: The units of analysis have been the 17 administrative regions of Spain. Alcohol consumption data have been taken from the 1987 and 1993 National Health Interview Surveys.
Results: A decrease of 10 g/week in mean alcohol consumption among male moderate drinkers has been associated with a decrease of 1.2% (95% CI: 0.7-1.7%) in the proportion of heavy drinkers. The association was also observed among women, those over and below 45 years of age, and was stronger for wine than for other alcoholic beverages.
Conclusion: The decrease in moderate consumption of alcohol has probably had a beneficial effect on the health of the Spanish population.