Income Inequality, Alcohol Use, and Alcohol-Related Problems

Abstract

Objectives We examined the relationship between state-level income inequality and alcohol outcomes and sought to determine whether associations of inequality with alcohol consumption and problems would be more evident with between-race inequality measures than with the Gini coefficient. We also sought to determine whether inequality would be most detrimental for disadvantaged individuals. Methods Data from 2 nationally representative samples of adults (n = 13 997) from the 2000 and 2005 National Alcohol Surveys were merged with state-level inequality and neighborhood disadvantage indicators from the 2000 US Census. We measured income inequality using the Gini coefficient and between-race poverty ratios (Black–White and Hispanic–White). Multilevel models accounted for clustering of respondents within states. Results Inequality measured by poverty ratios was positively associated with light and heavy drinking. Associations between poverty ratios and alcohol problems were strongest for Blacks and Hispanics compared with Whites. Household poverty did not moderate associations with income inequality. Conclusions Poverty ratios were associated with alcohol use and problems, whereas overall income inequality was not. Higher levels of alcohol problems in high-inequality states may be partly due to social context.

Associations of Alcohol Availability and Neighborhood Socioeconomic Characteristics With Drinking: Cross-Sectional Results From the Multi-Ethnic Study of Atherosclerosis (MESA)

“…Other researchers have found similar results, however (Pollack et al, 2005, Galea et al, 2007, Matheson et al, 2012, McKinney, Chartier, Caetano & Harris, 2012, Karriker-Jaffe, Roberts & Bond, 2013, Kuipers et al, 2013), which suggests that theories other than stress and coping may explain neighborhood influences on current alcohol use. Alternatively, neighborhood context may not influence current alcohol use, as using versus abstaining from alcohol is strongly related to individual and interpersonal factors like alcohol expectations, affect, health status and drinking norms (Cooper, Frone, Russell & Mudar, 1995, Ruchlin 1997).…”

The enemy between us: The psychological and social costs of inequality

“…The Australian study found that alcohol‐related hospitalisations initially decline when areas become more unequal, but then this was followed by a rapid increase. Among U.S. states, one study found that the ratio of White to Black and Hispanic poverty was more closely related to higher levels of alcohol problems than an overall measure of inequality (Karriker‐Jaffe, Roberts, & Bond, ).…”

Individual and Contextual Factors Associated With Hazardous Drinking in Spain: Evidence From a National Population‐Based Study

“…The role of the socioeconomic status of the area of residence has been amply explored in relation to different indicators of alcohol use but there is close to zero literature when it comes to BD in adults. There are 3 studies, however, which, without mentioning the specific definition of BD, examined a pretty close pattern and frequent heavy alcohol consumption, and found no associations (Karriker‐Jaffe et al, 2013; Monden et al, 2006; Steptoe and Feldman, 2001). Further, 2 studies exploring associations between contextual factors and incidence of drunkenness observed an inverse relationship, that is, individuals living in low socioeconomic neighborhoods reported more frequent drunkenness among regular drinkers (Mulia and Karriker‐Jaffe, 2012) or at the population level (Slutske et al, 2016).…”