Drinking occasion types and their connection to intoxication in different generations in Finland in 2023 and 2008

We analyze Finns’ drinking contexts by age and sex: prevalence of drinking occasion types, the role of intoxication in them, and changes since 2008, when alcohol consumption was 37% higher than in 2023. Surveys of the Finnish general population aged 20–69 in 2023 (n = 2133) and 2008 (n = 2500) recorded respondents’ most recent drinking occasions (n = 5851 and 8095), including place, time, company, and amount of alcohol consumed. Men’s drinking occasions occurred more often than women’s ‘alone’ (22% vs. 12%, p p p Among young adults, long nights of partying and socializing are key drinking occasions to target in preventing acute harm. Among older adults, solitary and family-based occasions contribute most to both intoxication and overall consumption.