Drinking patterns describe the many facets of how people drink, not only how much they drink. Patterns take into account the social context of drinking, the role of alcohol in different cultures, the variations in behaviors among drinkers, and potential for both benefit and harm.
Drinking patterns describe three important aspects of drinking: (1) individuals, or the characteristics of those who drink; (2) drinking settings, or where drinking takes place, as well as its role in everyday life and in a particular culture; and (3) drinking behaviors, or how people drink, whether moderately or to extremes, and the activities that may accompany drinking.
Research on patterns has provided a more complete understanding of the relationship between drinking and outcomes—both beneficial, as well as harmful.