![Sample our Health and Social Care journals, sign in here to start your FREE access for 14 days]({"type":"image" , "src" : "/sda/5938/TOC-Subject-Sample-2021-Health-Social-Care.jpg"})
Abstract
This paper describes the initial results of a survey of alcohol consumption among a general population sample of 1000 adults living on the Isle of Man. This survey is part of Gender, Alcohol and Culture: an International Study (GENACIS). Findings were compared with those of the UK GENACIS survey. The latter had elicited information from 2027 adults. This comparison revealed that the Isle of Man has a greater proportion of abstainers than the UK sample. Even so, among drinkers there was no difference on annual frequency of alcohol consumption or in relation to the quantity consumed on the last drinking occasion. Manx respondents reported having a greater number of positive experiences from drinking. Manx respondents were also more likely than those in the UK to be in the middle range of self‐reported alcohol‐related problems. A substantial minority of Manx adults (9% of women and 22% of men) were drinking above sensible levels. Moreover, some (roughly 1% of women and 5.6% of men) were exceeding high risk alcohol consumption levels. Many people reported having experienced alcohol‐related problems. It was notable that this survey did not suggest that upsurge in heavy drinking amongst young Manx women that has recently been evident amongst their counterparts in the UK.
Acknowledgements
This survey was funded by the Isle of Man Medical Research. Additional support was provided by the Alcohol Advisory Service, Douglas and the University of the West of England, Bristol (UWE). The UK part of GENACIS is supported by the European Forum for Responsible Drinking (formerly known as the Amsterdam Group), the Alcohol Education and Research Council (AERC) and UWE. This study was originally devised by the members of the International Research Group on Alcohol and Gender (IRGGA). The authors are especially grateful to Professors Sharon and Richard Wilsnack of the University of North Dakota and Dr Kim Bloomfield of the University of Southern Denmark for advice and encouragement. Ms Alena Macevoy is thanked for obtaining some of the demographic and economic details cited in this paper. Thanks are also due to Dr Alex Crawford of the RCA Trust.