Abstract
Objectives: To investigate the drinking and smoking habits among the community residents of a city. Methods: We surveyed 1.973 adults from October 1, 2005 to November 16, 2005. The data collected on alcohol drinking habits involved frequency, age of initiation, amount of alcohol consumed, number of attempts to reduce consumption and reasons for reducing it. The data collected on smoking habits involved amount, age of initiation, duration, situations, and the number of attempts to quit smoking. These were analyzed with frequency, percentage, mean, standard deviation, $x^2$-test, t-test and ANOVA. Results: The rate of drinking was 67.4%; 83.1% among males, and 52.5%among females. Among all drinkers, the largest group (29.8%) drank once or twice a week. The mean age of initiation was 21.2 years; 19.9 among males, and 22.8 among females. The average consumed amount was 5.8 glasses; males consumed 7.4 glasses, and females 3.3 glasses. The consumption was the highest among those in fifties. The rate of attempts to reduce drinking was 33.4%, mainly for health reasons. The rate of smoking was 38.0%; 72.4% among males, and 5.5% among females. Among all smokers, the largest group (44.1%) smoked between 11 and 20 cigarettes per day. The mean of the age of initiation was 20.7 years; 20.3 among males, 25.6 among females. The mean smoking duration was 20.9 years; 21.3 years among males, and 16.2 years among females. The main reason for the initial attempt was curiosity. The most common situation for smoking was after dinner. The rate of attempts to quit smoking was 77.1%, mainly out of concern for one's health. Alcohol consumption among smokers was higher than among any other group of nonsmokers. Also, the age of drinking initiation among smokers was lower than among any other group of nonsmokers. Conclusion: This study highlighted the actual data on drinking and smoking habits among community residents. The study can be utilized for creating programs aiming at reducing the consumption of alcohol and tobacco or stopping it altogether. Therefore, it is now possible to assess the indicators for interventions in each population group. Finally, the groups of heavy drinkers and smokers are expected to be given priority for intervention program.