This fact sheet assesses whether the prevalence of risky alcohol consumption (defined as high levels of alcohol consumption on a single occasion) among New Zealand adults varied according to smoking status. The analysis was undertaken using the HPA’s 2014 Health and Lifestyles Survey (HLS).
Methodology
Questions in the 2014 HLS relating to alcohol consumption and smoking behaviour were used to determine risky alcohol consumption and smoking status among New Zealand adults aged 15 years and over:
1) Risky alcohol consumption was determined by asking respondents on how many days in the last four weeks they had an alcoholic drink and, if they had had an alcoholic drink on at least one day, how often in the last four weeks they had consumed more than five (for females) or six (for males) alcoholic drinks on a single occasion. Respondents were considered to have engaged in risky alcohol consumption if they reported consuming more than five (for females) or six (for males) alcoholic drinks on a single occasion at least once in the last four weeks. All other respondents (including those who did not drink any alcohol in the last four weeks) were counted as not having engaged in risky alcohol consumption.
2) Smoking status was determined by asking respondents if they had ever smoked cigarettes or tobacco and, if they had, how often they currently smoke. Respondents were considered never smokers if they had never smoked cigarettes or tobacco; current smokers if they were currently smoking at least once a month; and ex-smokers if they had smoked tobacco in their lifetime but they no longer smoked.
Respondents who refused a question or said ‘don’t know’ were excluded from analysis. Univariate regression analyses were conducted first to assess whether the prevalence of risky alcohol consumption varied with smoking status and to identify any confounding variables that might account for the relationship between smoking status and risky alcohol consumption (age, ethnicity, gender, and neighbourhood deprivation were examined). Multivariate regression analyses were then conducted to assess whether the relationship between risky alcohol consumption and smoking was still significant after adjusting for the confounding variables. Both odds ratio (OR) and adjusted odds ratio (AOR) are reported.
Key Results
• Around one-half (53%) of current smokers, one-quarter (25%) of ex-smokers, and one-sixth (15%) of never smokers reported engaging in risky alcohol consumption in the last four weeks.
• After adjusting for confounding variables, current smokers and ex-smokers were still more likely than never smokers to report engaging in risky alcohol consumption in the last four weeks.