Table of Contents

Component Description

The alcohol use questionnaire (variable name prefix ALQ_L) file provides data on lifetime and current use (i.e., past 12 months, past 30 days). Questions are not specific to the type of alcohol used.

Eligible Sample

All participants ages 12 years and older in the August 2021-August 2023 sample were eligible; however, only data from participants who were ages 18 and over are included in this file.

A special use data file for participants ages 12-17, ALQY_L_R, is available through the NCHS Research Data Center (RDC).

Interview Setting and Mode of Administration

The ALQ section was administered at the Mobile Examination Center (MEC) during the MEC Interview, including a question on binge drinking frequency in the past 30 days (i.e., ALQ170), which was previously asked at the end of the in-person dietary interview in the MEC. For adults 18 years and older, questions were self-administered using the Audio-Computer Assisted Self-Interview (ACASI) system. The ACASI enables participants to hear questions through headphones as well as read questions on the computer screen. Participants move at their own speed and touch the screen to indicate their response. For adolescents 12 to 17 whose data are available via the NCHS RDC, questions were also self-administered using the ACASI system. 

The NHANES August 2021-August 2023 ALQ is available on the NHANES website. 

Quality Assurance & Quality Control

The ACASI system is programmed with built-in consistency checks to reduce data entry errors. ACASI also uses online help screens to assist participants in defining key terms used in the questionnaire.

For details on the QA/QC process for this component, please refer to the August 2021-August 2023 MEC ACASI Procedures Manual on the NHANES website.

Data Processing and Editing

The data were edited for completeness, consistency, and illogical values. Because the data are based on self-reports, not all inconsistencies could be resolved. It is recommended that analysts review the data carefully prior to analysis.

Analytic Notes

The NHANES alcohol use questions for adults were not changed between the 2017-March 2020 and August 2021-August 2023 data collection cycles. However, question ALQ290 (i.e., “During the past 12 months, about how often did {you/SP} have 12 or more drinks in a single day?”) was removed from the August 2021-August 2023 questionnaire.

The NHANES August 2021-August 2023 alcohol use data were collected in the MEC; therefore, exam sample weights should be used for the analyses. Please refer to the NHANES Analytic Guidelines and the on-line NHANES Tutorial for details on the use of sample weights and other analytic issues.

Codebook and Frequencies

SEQN - Respondent sequence number

Variable Name:
SEQN
SAS Label:
Respondent sequence number
English Text:
Respondent sequence number.
Target:
Both males and females 18 YEARS - 150 YEARS

ALQ111 - Ever had a drink of any kind of alcohol

Variable Name:
ALQ111
SAS Label:
Ever had a drink of any kind of alcohol
English Text:
In your entire life, have you had at least 1 drink of any kind of alcohol, not counting small tastes or sips? By a drink, I mean a 12 oz. beer, a 5 oz. glass of wine, or one and a half ounces of liquor.
Target:
Both males and females 18 YEARS - 150 YEARS
Code or Value Value Description Count Cumulative Skip to Item
1 Yes 4918 4918
2 No 558 5476 End of Section
7 Refused 0 5476
9 Don't know 5 5481
. Missing 856 6337

ALQ121 - Past 12 mos how often drink alc bev

Variable Name:
ALQ121
SAS Label:
Past 12 mos how often drink alc bev
English Text:
During the past 12 months, about how often did you drink any type of alcoholic beverage? PROBE: In other words, how many days per week, per month, or per year did you drink?
Target:
Both males and females 18 YEARS - 150 YEARS
Code or Value Value Description Count Cumulative Skip to Item
0 Never in the last year 836 836 ALQ151
1 Every day 163 999
2 Nearly every day 301 1300
3 3 to 4 times a week 458 1758
4 2 times a week 483 2241
5 Once a week 420 2661
6 2 to 3 times a month 574 3235
7 Once a month 362 3597
8 7 to 11 times in the last year 261 3858
9 3 to 6 times in the last year 517 4375
10 1 to 2 times in the last year 542 4917
77 Refused 2 4919
99 Don't know 3 4922
. Missing 1415 6337

ALQ130 - Avg # alcoholic drinks/day/past 12 mos

Variable Name:
ALQ130
SAS Label:
Avg # alcoholic drinks/day/past 12 mos
English Text:
During the past 12 months, on those days that you drank alcoholic beverages, on average, how many drinks did you have? (By a drink, I mean a 12 oz. beer, a 5 oz. glass of wine, or one and a half ounces of liquor.)
English Instructions:
HAND CARD ALQ1 IF LESS THAN 1 DRINK, ENTER '1'. IF 95 DRINKS OR MORE, ENTER '95'. CAPI INSTRUCTION: SOFT EDIT: IF RESPONSE >=20, THEN DISPLAY "YOU SAID ON THE DAYS THAT YOU DRINK YOU HAVE ON AVERAGE {DISPLAY QUANTITY} DRINKS, IS THAT CORRECT?" HARD EDIT: Range - 1-95 ENTER # OF DRINKS
Target:
Both males and females 18 YEARS - 150 YEARS
Hard Edits:
1 to 14
Code or Value Value Description Count Cumulative Skip to Item
1 to 14 Range of Values 4035 4035
15 15 drinks or more 20 4055
777 Refused 4 4059
999 Don't know 10 4069
. Missing 2268 6337

ALQ142 - # days have 4/5 drinks/past 12 mos

Variable Name:
ALQ142
SAS Label:
# days have 4/5 drinks/past 12 mos
English Text:
During the past 12 months, about how often did you have {DISPLAY NUMBER} or more drinks of any alcoholic beverage? PROBE: In other words, how many days per week, per month, or per year did you have {DISPLAY NUMBER} or more drinks in a single day?
English Instructions:
HAND CARD ALQ2 INTERVIEWER INSTRUCTION: IF SP ANSWERS NONE, PLEASE CODE '0', NEVER IN THE LAST YEAR. CAPI INSTRUCTION: IF SP = MALE, DISPLAY = 5 IF SP = FEMALE, DISPLAY = 4 HARD EDIT: ALQ142 CANNOT HAVE A LOWER CODED VALUE THAN ALQ121, UNLESS ALQ142 IS CODED '0'. ERROR MESSAGE: "SP HAS REPORTED DRINKING MORE TIMES IN THIS QUESTION THAN WAS PREVIOUSLY REPORTED IN ALQ121."
Target:
Both males and females 18 YEARS - 150 YEARS
Code or Value Value Description Count Cumulative Skip to Item
0 Never in the last year 1709 1709 ALQ151
1 Every day 39 1748
2 Nearly every day 63 1811
3 3 to 4 times a week 122 1933
4 2 times a week 114 2047
5 Once a week 207 2254
6 2 to 3 times a month 249 2503
7 Once a month 290 2793
8 7 to 11 times in the last year 142 2935
9 3 to 6 times in the last year 398 3333
10 1 to 2 times in the last year 729 4062
77 Refused 8 4070
99 Don't know 12 4082
. Missing 2255 6337

ALQ270 - # times 4/5 drinks in 2hrs/past 12 mos

Variable Name:
ALQ270
SAS Label:
# times 4/5 drinks in 2hrs/past 12 mos
English Text:
During the past 12 months, about how often did you have {DISPLAY NUMBER} or more drinks in a period of two hours or less?
English Instructions:
HAND CARD ALQ2 CAPI INSTRUCTION: IF SP = MALE, DISPLAY = 5 IF SP= FEMALE, DISPLAY = 4 HARD EDIT: ALQ270 CANNOT HAVE A LOWER CODED VALUE THAN ALQ121, UNLESS ALQ.270 IS CODED '0'. ERROR MESSAGE: "SP HAS REPORTED DRINKING MORE TIMES IN THIS QUESTION THAN WAS PREVIOUSLY REPORTED IN ALQ121."
Target:
Both males and females 18 YEARS - 150 YEARS
Code or Value Value Description Count Cumulative Skip to Item
0 Never in the last year 1020 1020
1 Every day 12 1032
2 Nearly every day 34 1066
3 3 to 4 times a week 57 1123
4 2 times a week 71 1194
5 Once a week 99 1293
6 2 to 3 times a month 128 1421
7 Once a month 183 1604
8 7 to 11 times in the last year 79 1683
9 3 to 6 times in the last year 163 1846
10 1 to 2 times in the last year 507 2353
77 Refused 4 2357
99 Don't know 9 2366
. Missing 3971 6337

ALQ280 - # times 8+ drinks in 1 day/past 12 mos

Variable Name:
ALQ280
SAS Label:
# times 8+ drinks in 1 day/past 12 mos
English Text:
During the past 12 months, about how often did you have 8 or more drinks in a single day?
English Instructions:
HAND CARD ALQ2 HARD EDIT: ALQ280 CANNOT HAVE A LOWER CODED VALUE THAN ALQ121, UNLESS ALQ.280 IS CODED '0'. ERROR MESSAGE: "SP HAS REPORTED DRINKING MORE TIMES IN THIS QUESTION THAN WAS PREVIOUSLY REPORTED IN ALQ121."
Target:
Both males and females 18 YEARS - 150 YEARS
Code or Value Value Description Count Cumulative Skip to Item
0 Never in the last year 1391 1391 ALQ151
1 Every day 12 1403
2 Nearly every day 21 1424
3 3 to 4 times a week 36 1460
4 2 times a week 49 1509
5 Once a week 74 1583
6 2 to 3 times a month 82 1665
7 Once a month 122 1787
8 7 to 11 times in the last year 80 1867
9 3 to 6 times in the last year 114 1981
10 1 to 2 times in the last year 371 2352
77 Refused 3 2355
99 Don't know 7 2362
. Missing 3975 6337

ALQ151 - Ever have 4/5 or more drinks every day

Variable Name:
ALQ151
SAS Label:
Ever have 4/5 or more drinks every day
English Text:
Was there ever a time or times in your life when you drank {DISPLAY NUMBER} or more drinks of any kind of alcoholic beverage almost every day?
English Instructions:
CAPI INSTRUCTION: IF SP = MALE, DISPLAY = 5 IF SP = FEMALE, DISPLAY = 4
Target:
Both males and females 18 YEARS - 150 YEARS
Code or Value Value Description Count Cumulative Skip to Item
1 Yes 916 916
2 No 3979 4895
7 Refused 1 4896
9 Don't know 5 4901
. Missing 1436 6337

ALQ170 - # times 4/5 drinks on occasion/past mo

Variable Name:
ALQ170
SAS Label:
# times 4/5 drinks on occasion/past mo
English Text:
Considering all types of alcoholic beverages, during the past 30 days, how many times did you have {DISPLAY NUMBER} or more drinks on an occasion?
Target:
Both males and females 18 YEARS - 150 YEARS
Hard Edits:
0 to 20
Code or Value Value Description Count Cumulative Skip to Item
0 to 20 Range of Values 2309 2309
30 More than 20 times 43 2352
777 Refused 3 2355
999 Don't know 3 2358
. Missing 3979 6337