# Abusive consumption of alcoholic beverages: results from COVITEL, the Telephone Survey of Risk and Protective Factors for Noncommunicable Chronic Diseases, 2022 and 2023

## TL;DR

This study analyzed alcohol abuse and drinking habits in Brazil in 2022 and 2023, finding no major change in alcohol abuse but shifts in drinking and driving behavior.

## Contribution

The study provides updated data on alcohol consumption trends and behaviors in Brazil using a large, representative sample.

## Key findings

- No significant change in alcohol abuse prevalence between 2022 and 2023.
- Drinking and driving decreased among 18–24-year-olds but increased among those with 12+ years of education.
- Males consistently showed higher rates of alcohol consumption and risky behaviors.

## Abstract

To estimate the prevalence of abusive alcohol consumption, drinking and driving habits and reports of alcohol consumption comparing the first quarters of 2022 and 2023.

A cross-sectional study, with data from the Telephone Survey of Risk Factors for Chronic Noncommunicable Diseases, 2022 and 2023. The study sample included 9 thousand people each year collected using random digit dialing and dialing methods direct distance (DDD) on mobile and fixed telephone lines. Self-reported variables for alcohol abuse, drinking and driving habits, and alcohol consumption were analyzed.

There was no significant change in the prevalence of alcohol abuse in the first quarters of 2022 and 2023. However, differences were observed in drinking and driving behavior, with a reduction in prevalence among those aged 18 to 24 years (9.6% (95%CI 4.4–19.8) to 2.2% (95%CI 1.4–3.6) and increased behavior among those with 12 or more years of education (from 6.9% (95%CI 5.5–8.7) to 11.9% (95%CI 10,3–13,6). Male individuals had a higher prevalence of alcohol consumption, alcohol abuse and drinking and driving habits in all analyzed breakdowns.

The Brazilian policy to reduce the consumption of alcoholic beverages and the Sustainable Development Goals must be treated as a priority in Brazil.

Estimar a prevalência de consumo abusivo de bebidas alcoólicas, hábito de beber e dirigir e relato de consumo de bebidas alcoólicas, comparando os primeiros trimestres de 2022 e 2023.

Estudo transversal, de base populacional, com dados secundários obtidos do Inquérito Telefônico de Fatores de Risco para Doenças Crônicas não Transmissíveis (2022 e 2023). A amostra do estudo integrou 9 mil pessoas em cada ano coletado a partir de métodos de discagem aleatória de dígitos e Discagem Direta à Distância (DDD) em linhas de telefonia móvel e fixa. Variáveis autorreferidas para consumo abusivo de álcool, hábito de beber e dirigir e consumo de bebidas alcoólicas foram analisados.

Não houve alteração significativa na prevalência do consumo abusivo de álcool ao se comparar os primeiros trimestres de 2022 e 2023. Contudo, diferenças foram observadas no comportamento de beber e dirigir, com redução da prevalência entre indivíduos de 18 a 24 anos de idade de 9,6% (IC95% 4,4–19,8) para 2,2% (IC95% 1,4–3,6) e aumento do comportamento entre aqueles com 12 ou mais anos de estudo — de 6,9% (IC95% 5,5–8,7) para 11,9% (IC95% 10,3–13,6). Os indivíduos do sexo masculino apresentaram maiores prevalências de consumo de bebidas alcoólicas, consumo abusivo de álcool e hábito de beber e dirigir em todas as desagregações analisadas.

a proposição de políticas públicas que inibam o acesso e o consumo de bebidas alcoólicas e os Objetivos de Desenvolvimento Sustentável devem ser tratados com prioridade no Brasil.