Ethnic Origin, Beverage Preference, and Group Composition in Relation to Alcohol Consumption by Problem Drinkers

New Zealand problem drinkers of European, Maori, and Pacific Island origin did not differ in their mean alcohol consumption during a 2½-h free-drinking period in an experimental bar. Europeans had a smaller beer sip size, ingested more alcohol in the form of spirits, and were more likely to drink both beer and mixed drinks during the session than Polynesians. Dual beverage drinkers consumed more alcohol than did single beverage drinkers. Among drinkers of each ethnic category there was a positive relationship between alcohol consumption and ethnic representation in the drinking group. The results are discussed in the context of earlier baseline studies of drinking by alcoholics and normal drinkers, and observations of different ethnic groups drinking in the natural barroom environment.