Cohort analysis of alcohol consumption: a double hurdle approach

This paper describes the life-cycle alcohol consumption patterns of Italian households by decomposing gender, cohort, age and time effects and estimates the importance of demographic characteristics using a double hurdle model. The application is based on ISTAT households expenditure survey for the period 1997-2002 organized in cohorts. As expected, cohort and age effects are significant in both participation and consumption. The significance of gender and geographic differences suggests interesting policy implications.