Technical Report - Donegal Traveller's Project

Health Survey FindingsThe reported frequency of alcohol consumption in the AITHS is comparable to that of the medical cardholders in SLAN 2007, and both groups have lower frequencies of consumption than do the generalSLAN 2007 population. However, of those who do drink alcohol, the AITHS participants report drinkinga greater number of alcoholic drinks than do SLAN 2007 medical card holders. 66.1% of male and42.3% of female ROI Travellers and 65.6% of male and 39.3% of female NI Travellers drink six or morealcoholic drinks on days when they are drinking alcohol, compared with 35.8% of male and 17.0% offemale SLAN 2007 medical card holders. From the 2008-2009 NI Continuous Household survey, 74%of all respondents drink alcohol, with 82% of 25-44-year-olds and 77% of 45 to 65-year-olds reportingalcohol consumption.Table 256: Self reported frequency of alcohol consumption in the SLAN 2007 and AITHSgroupsTravellers (ROI)(n=1,639)Travellers (NI)(n=399)SLAN 2007medicalcard holders(n=3,428)SLAN 2007 allparticipants(n=3,718)Under 30 years :Never drink alcohol (%) 40.9% 45.4% 16.2% 11.0%Drink >2 times per week (%) 9.3% 16.1% 26.7% 38.0%30-44 years:Never drink alcohol (%) 30.9% 32.1% 19.6% 14.0%Drink >2 times per week (%) 16.3% 29.1% 28.0% 38.0%45-64 years:Never drink alcohol (%) 39.9% 35.8% 30.7% 21.0%Drink >2 times per week (%) 17.6% 32.1% 30.3% 41.0%65 and older:Never drink alcohol (%) 46.2% 28.6% 43.5% 41.0%Drink >2 times per week (%) 14.3% 28.6% 25.1% 28.0%TotalNever drink alcohol (%) 38.1% 39.3% 32.7% 19.0%Drink >2 times per week (%) 13.4% 22.8% 27.1% 38.0%213