Data from a 1992 survey of the
general population (Caetano 1997)
suggest that most people experiencing
alcohol problems have problems of
mild to moderate severity. Of the people
who reported at least one dependencerelated
problem or social consequence,
few experienced more than two such
problems. The data are consistent across
demographic lines, including black,
white, and Hispanic men and women,
suggesting that occasional and mild-tomoderate
alcohol problems represent the
most prevalent form of alcohol problems.
Caetano’s research also indicates a significant
number of male and female drinkers
who are unlikely to meet diagnostic
criteria for severe alcohol dependence
or alcoholism, despite their frequent
drinking and occasional negative consequences
from drinking. Rather, the
majority of this group are more appropriately
classified as problem drinkers.