Rowntree reviews ethnicity and alcohol
Individuals from certain minority ethnic groups have historically reported lower rates of drinking and fewer people from minority ethnic groups present to alcohol services for problems related to alcohol misuse.
However, some research has shown that patterns of drinking in second generation minority ethnic groups may alter, becoming similar to the drinking habits of the general population, whilst the drinking patterns of the first generation minority ethnic groups continue to resemble those from their country of origin. A new report from the Joseph Rowntree Foundation, ‘Ethnicity and alcohol: a review of the UK literature’, looks at whether rates of alcohol use are actually changing among ethnic groups, and examines the possible impact of changes in drinking behaviour on the nature and level of support services required.
Key points arising from the report are:
- Most minority ethnic groups have higher rates of abstinence and lower levels of drinking compared to people from white backgrounds.
- Abstinence is high amongst South Asians, particularly those from Pakistani, Bangladeshi and Muslim backgrounds. But Pakistani and Muslim men who do drink do so more heavily than other non-white minority ethnic and religious groups.
- People from mixed ethnic backgrounds are less likely to abstain and more likely to drink heavily compared to other non-white minority ethnic groups.
- People from Indian, Chinese, Irish and Pakistani backgrounds on higher incomes tend to drink above recommended limits.
Over time generational differences may emerge:
- Frequent and heavy drinking has increased for Indian women and Chinese men.
- Drinking among Sikh girls has increased whilst second generation Sikh men drink less than first generations.
- People from some ethnic groups are more at risk of alcohol-related harm:
- Irish, Scottish, and Indian men, and Irish and Scottish women have higher than national average alcohol-related deaths in England and Wales.
- Sikh men are over-represented for liver cirrhosis.
- People from minority ethnic groups have similar levels of alcohol dependence compared to the general population, despite drinking less.
- Services are reportedly not responsive enough:
- Minority ethnic groups are under-represented in seeking treatment and advice for drinking problems.
- Problem drinking may be hidden among women and young people from South Asian ethnic groups in which drinking is proscribed.
- Greater understanding of cultural issues is needed in developing mainstream and specialist alcohol services.
A copy of the report can be downloaded from: http://alcoholreports.blogspot.com/