Dr. Kuntsche and his colleagues theorized that in Western Europe and North America, “alcohol consumption and drunkenness may have lost some of their appeal to a formerly high-consuming group” during the study period. In Eastern Europe, by contrast, “alcohol consumption might have appeared to be part of a new and attractive lifestyle element.” But in general, the findings – including the narrowing gender gaps – appeared to be consistent with trends in the adult populations of the countries surveyed, the investigators noted.
The authors noted that their study relied on self reports, which are imprecise, as was their measure of drunkenness, and so results of the surveys could vary according to respondent interpretation. Also, they wrote, “caution should be exercised in extending these conclusions to periods before or after” the defined 8-year period.
The cohort study was funded by its participating countries. Neither Dr. Kuntsche nor his colleagues reported conflicts of interest.