Poor people drink the least. They are more likely to abstain and less likely to be moderate or light drinkers when compared in studies with other income groups. Ironically, says Mosher, studies show that poor people suffer disproportionately from alcohol-related problems due to insufficient access to health care, proper diet and housing, and greater exposure to crime and racism. Racial groups have distinct drinking patterns, Mosher writes. Those with the lowest incomes drink less, but are most likely to report drinking problems, their likelihood of problems disproportionate to the amount of heavy drinking they do.
Homeless people suffer disproportionate levels of alcohol problems.
Studies in various cities report alcohol problem levels of 30 percent or more. Native Americans have three times the national rate of cirrhosis death and African-Americans twice the national rate. Mexican-born men in the United States have 40 percent higher rate of cirrhosis death than white men. African-Americans are about 50 percent more likely than whites to be clients in alcohol treatment programs. Latino men also have disproportionate rates of clinically diagnosed alcoholism, as do Native Americans.