National Surveys that Collect Information
about Alcohol Consumption

CDC-Sponsored Surveys

• Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (BRFSS)
  World’s largest telephone survey that tracks health behaviors, chronic diseases, and preventive health practices among non-institutionalized adults in the United States. It collects data on the number of drinking days, average number of drinks per occasion, maximum number of drinks consumed per drinking occasion and frequency of binge drinking.
   
• Youth Risk Behavior Survey
  Monitors six categories of priority health-risk behaviors among high school youth at the national, state, and local levels. This biannual survey specifically collects data on age at first drink of alcohol, frequency of drinking, frequency of binge drinking, drinking on school property, and drinking associated with other behaviors such as driving and sexual activity.
   
• Pregnancy Risk Assessment Monitoring System
  Survey collects state-specific, population-based data on maternal attitudes and experiences among women two to six months after pregnancy. This survey collects information on alcohol consumption before, during, and shortly after pregnancy.
   
• Pregnancy Nutrition Surveillance System
  Monitors risk factors associated with infant mortality and poor birth outcomes among low-income pregnant women participating in federally funded public health programs. This survey collects data on current alcohol use before and during pregnancy.
   
• National Health Interview Survey
  Multi-purpose health survey that monitors the health of the non-institutionalized adults and children in the United States. This survey collects information on a broad range of health topics, including current alcohol use and binge drinking among adults.
   
• National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey
  Collects health and nutrition data through interviews and health examinations of the civilian, non-institutionalized U.S. population. The survey specifically collects information on age of first drink, lifetime alcohol use, current alcohol use and binge drinking.

Other National Surveys

• National Survey on Drug Use and Health (formerly the National Household Survey on Drug Abuse)
  In-home survey that gathers information on mental health and substance abuse, from non-institutionalized persons aged 12 years and older. Collects data on the use of alcohol and illicit drugs, as well as symptoms of substance abuse or dependence.
   
• National Longitudinal Alcohol Epidemiologic Survey (NLAES)
  Collects longitudinal data on the prevalence of alcohol abuse and dependence associated with disabilities. Data collected include detailed measures of alcohol consumption, patterns of use, and consequences of alcohol use.
   
• National Epidemiologic Survey on Alcohol and Related Conditions (NESARC)
  Longitudinal survey of alcohol use disorders and associated disabilities among the non-institutionalized household adults, 18 years and older residing in the United States. The survey assesses alcohol use disorders and disabilities in the general population and provides information related to treatment.
   
• Monitoring the Future Survey*
  Ongoing and long-term study of the behaviors, attitudes, and values towards substance use of American adolescents, college students, and adults. Each year approximately 50,000 8th, 10th and 12th grade students are surveyed about substance use, including alcohol consumption, and a subset are sent follow-up questionnaires through age 45.
   
• National Alcohol Survey*
  Series of national surveys that collect information on a variety of alcohol issues including drinking practices, problems, attitudes, and community response.
   
• College Alcohol Study (CAS)*
  Ongoing survey of over 14,000 students at 120 four-year colleges in 40 states. The CAS examines issues related to college alcohol use including traditions of drinking on campus, participation in fraternities and sororities, relationship of alcohol control measures and college policies, as well as information about consequences of alcohol use on campus.
   
• Alcohol Epidemiologic Data Directory* (PDF–400K)
  List of national and special population surveys and data sets available for epidemiologic analysis of alcohol consumption.

One or more documents on this Web page is available in Portable Document Format (PDF). You will need Acrobat Reader to view and print these documents.

* Links to non-Federal organizations are provided solely as a service to our users. Links do not constitute an endorsement of any organization by CDC or the Federal Government, and none should be inferred. The CDC is not responsible for the content of the individual organization Web pages found at this link.

Page last reviewed: April 2, 2008
Page last modified: January 24, 2007
Content source: Division of Adult and Community Health, National Center for Chronic Disease Prevention and Health Promotion