AIM: To determine the extent drinking patterns (at the individual and country level) are associated with alcohol-related consequences over and above the total alcohol the person consumes.
METHODS: Hierarchical linear models were estimated based on general population surveys conducted in 18 countries participating in the GENACIS project.
RESULTS: In general, the positive association between drinking pattern scores and alcohol-related consequences was found at both the individual and country levels, independent of volume of drinking. In addition, a significant interaction effect indicated that the more detrimental the country's drinking pattern, the less steep the association between the volume of drinking and its consequences.
CONCLUSION: Drinking patterns have an independent impact on consequences over and above the relationship between volume and consequences.