MANILA, Oct. 22, 2012— More women drink alcohol than men in the Philippines, a study showed.
Data from the Veritas Truth Survey (VTS) revealed that 52 % of women are alcohol drinkers, compared to their male counterparts at only 48 %.
About 66% of Filipinos who are liquor drinkers are from Luzon with the highest level of consumption at 58.9% compared in Visayas at 21.5% and in Mindanao at 19.6 on a survey of about 2, 500 respondents.
Alcohol consumption was specifically higher in the National Capital Region (17%), Region 4A (15%) and Region 7 (8%) while the Autonomous Region of Muslim Mindanao scored the lowest at 2%.
The figures also suggest that alcohol consumption is common among individuals aged 19 to 25 comprising at least 25.55%. The next large group of drinkers comes from aged 29-35 at 14.38%.
The survey, conducted during the second quarter of 2012, further showed that more married respondents would consume alcoholic beverages at 57% compared to single respondents at 43%.
As to the frequency of alcoholic beverage consumption, 79% of the respondents said that they would drink alcoholic beverages only during special occasions while 11% would drink alcohol on a weekly basis, 6% on a monthly basis and 4% on a daily basis.
“This would imply that almost 21% of Filipinos are regular alcoholic beverage drinkers,” said sociologist Bro. Clifford Sorita, who is part of the study conducted by Church-run Radio Veritas.
Using random sampling, the survey was conducted in 85 archdioceses and dioceses covering country’s 17 regions.” The survey has a plus or minus 2 percent margin of error.
Sorita added that an equal distribution of alcoholic beverage consumers was also documented as to urban and rural domicile location.
He said that when analyzed by salary range, those earning P5,000-14,999 pesos would consume more alcoholic beverages (at 41%) compared to those earning P15,000-24,999 at 26%; those earning P25,000-Above at 20%; and those earning P4,999-below at 13%. (CBCPNews)
