To maintain the prospective nature of the study, analyses on drinking patterns began with the 1988 questionnaire when participants were first asked the usual number of days alcohol was consumed in a typical week and largest number of alcoholic drinks consumed in one day in a typical month (none, 1-2, 3-5, 6-9, 10-14, or 15+). These questions were updated in 1996, 2000, and 2004. For alcohol consumption at different times of life, analyses also began in 1988 when participants were asked about the usual number of alcoholic drinks per week at three different age periods (age 18-22 years, 25-30, and 35-40). This information was not updated.
