Alcohol consumption in a Danish cohort during 11 years. 
A cohort living in Copenhagen County, originally consisting of 1198 persons, 577 men and 621 women, 40-years of age in 1976, was reexamined in 1981, and again in 1987.  Of the original cohort 1052 (88%) participated in 1976, 992 (84%) in 1981, and 965 (85%) in 1987.  The purpose of this study was to describe changes in alcohol consumption in the cohort, with the view of identifying subgroups, who have changed their alcohol consumption behaviour to a certain extent.  Alcohol consumption was measured by the same questionnaire all three times as to the level of consumption and frequency.  Alcohol consumption peaked in 1981 (45-year olds) with 10.4 drinks on average a week.  Men increased their consumption by 8% and women by 37%.  There was an overall downward tendency in the consumption frequency among men, whereas the opposite was the case among women.  The two groups are converging toward a weekly consumption frequency.  It seems now that women are leading the change toward a greater wine consumption in relative and absolute terms.  It is therefore concluded that female consumption should be considered as a target in future preventive programmes.