Unmarried cohabiting couples, particularly when they do not any children living with them, and single persons have a greater tendency to heavy drinking and to alcohol addiction. Unemployment, money trouble and low social support and unmarried women living in urban districts are all factors that contribute to greater alcohol consumption in comparison with married couples. Such is the conclusion of a Finnish study carried out among more than 4 000 men and women aged between 30 and 54 years.

It is known from previous research that the marital situation has an influence on health and mortality, with an unfavourable position for unmarried compared with married persons.

During ht past decade great changes were noted in the composition of families, such that a division into single, divorced and widows/widowers no longer reflects reality: they may be living alone or living together with a partner, with their children or with others. The health situation now seems to be very dependent on the situation in the family. That also has a connection with alcohol consumption.

The Finnish researchers see three kinds of causes for unhealthy drinking habits. First there are the psychosocial factors caused by the nature of the family, and the material condition of the family, with aggravating factors such as divorce and death of members of the family.

A second sort of cause is found in the environment, the living conditions and experiences from earlier life. A third category of cause of unhealthy drink consumption is ascribed to lower prospects of marriage and higher risk of divorce.

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