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<i>Aims:</i> (a) To compare acute negative consequences for people who drink a given amount of alcohol on few occasions (concentrators) per week in comparison with the consequences for people who drink the same amount on more days in a week (spreaders). (b) To investigate whether these associations are cross-culturally stable. <i>Methods:</i> Analysis is based on general population surveys of adults conducted in 7 European countries. <i>Results:</i> It appeared that more drinking occasions in many countries lead to more consequences independent of the volume consumed. Risky single-occasion drinking was to be associated with higher risks for immediate health consequences and legal problems, accidents and fights. Among older respondents the same frequency pattern appeared, with the exception of immediate health consequences among women. Hence, more regular drinking seemed to have more beneficial effects on older individuals compared to younger ones, which may be related to the different drinking situation: younger people mostly drinking outside the home. Amongst the younger people, frequent drinking seemed to be associated with more acute consequences. Cultural and methodological variations must be taken into account. <i>Conclusion: </i>Even so, it is concluded that the credibility of these findings is strengthened by differences in the methods of the surveys.

<i>Background/Aims:</i> Evidence underlines the importance of drinking patterns and individual characteristics in experiencing adverse alcohol-related consequences; however, little research has been conducted to explore who does and who does not experience consequences with similar drinking patterns. Using data from seven European countries, this study assesses the association between demographic and socioeconomic characteristics and six adverse consequences. <i>Methods:</i> Conditional logistic regression models were estimated, cases (experiencing a consequence) being matched to controls (not experiencing the consequence) by drinking patterns. <i>Results:</i> In general, protective effects with increasing age and being in a partnership were consistent. Gender effects were mixed, but mainly protective for women. Educational achievement and economic status showed consistent effects across countries, but different directions of effect across consequences. Consequences mostly associated with individual drinking pattern <i>(injury, blackout</i>, and <i>loss of control over drinking)</i> exhibited similar patterns of associations, but varying ones arose for consequences additionally influenced by societal reaction to drinking <i>(guilt</i>, <i>role failure</i>, and <i>pressure to cut down drinking)</i>. <i>Conclusion:</i> Differences in strengths and directions of effects across consequences pointed to the possibility that the reporting of adverse consequences is not only influenced by alcohol consumption, but also by attributional processes related to demographic and socioeconomic statuses.