Alcohol Consumption Measures

Contributions from markedly different kinds of studies—biogenetic, epidemiologic, longitudinal, population surveys, clinical analog, and treatment outcome—have advanced our understanding of alcohol use and abuse. Although different studies examine issues from different perspectives, they have one thing in common—the assessment of alcohol consumption. Alcohol consumption, however, is a complex behavior that can change considerably over time. Twenty-five years ago very few drinking measures existed. Today the situation has changed dramatically (Alanko 1984; Room 1990; L.C. Sobell and Sobell 1992, 1995). Multiple measures are now available. Thus, the issue now is how to select the best measure for a given purpose, as each measure has advantages and limitations. This chapter, like most in this Guide, was first published in 1995 (L.C. Sobell and Sobell 1995). This update reviews the literature on drinking measures published through mid-2001, presents new measures that met the inclusion criteria for this volume, and provides recommendations about what drinking measures to use and for what purpose. When selecting a drinking measure, a decision must be made about the type of information needed (e.g., level of precision, timeframe, amount of time that can be devoted to data collec­ tion). Ultimately, the utility of a drinking measure for research and/or clinical purposes will rest on its intended use. Therefore, the following ques­ tions need to be answered when selecting a drink­ ing measure: • How is the information to be used? • Over what time interval should data be collected? • How long will it take to collect the data? • What type of drinking information (e.g., precision) is needed? • What level of training or expertise is needed to administer the instrument? • Is the measure psychometrically reliable and valid?