Age and maturing out of heavy drinking among Anglo and minority male drinkers: A comparison of cross-sectional data and retrospective drinking history techniques

Data from a random sample of 164 Anglo, 168 African American, and 149 Mexican American male regular drinkers compare the use of cross-sectional data on current consumption patterns versus retrospective lifetime drinking history data in studying ethnic differences in "maturing out" of heavy drinking among male drinkers. Cross-sectional analyses among males in their 20s, 30s, and 40s on current consumption indexes suggest that maturing out of heavy drinking may be more of an Anglo phenomenon. Drinking history analyses suggest that the process takes place in both majority and minority male drinkers in their 20s, although slightly earlier among Anglos. Although Mexican Americans were less likely to report heavy or problem drinking stages, heavy drinkers in this ethnic group reported heavy drinking earlier and for longer periods of time than did other drinkers. Analyses suggest that ethnic differences in the maturing out phenomenon may be more subtle than is suggested in the cross-sectional analysis.