Alcohol consumption (AC) is a global concern due to its potential adverse effects on well-being. Numerous studies have demonstrated that stress and lifestyle choices play asignificant role in the prevalence of AC. Thus, the aim of this research was to investigate thepatterns of AC among adults living in the Metropolitan Area of Buenos Aires and to evaluateits association with stress and lifestyle on their drinking habits.

307 participants (76.9% women; Mean age= 39.12 ± 0.63) completed an online survey,providing information on AC quantity and frequency, as well as responding to the RLCQ,PSS, and HPLP-II questionnaires to assess recent life changes, perceived stress levels, andlifestyle factors.

Results showed that 80% of the participants consumed alcohol in the last month, with anaverage consumption of 2.67 ± 0.16 and 3.21 ± 0.29 standard drink units (SD) per occasionand 11.42 ± 0.77 and 16.39 ± 1.82 SD per month, for women and men respectively.Significant correlations were observed exclusively among women participants, linking the SDmonthly consumption to the variables assessed through the questionnaires. Regressionanalysis revealed that the independent variables accounted for 13% of the variance of SDmonthly consumption, being the recent life changes related to the social, personal and workdomains positively associated with increased SD monthly consumption.

In conclusion, the high prevalence of AC among adults emphasizes the importance ofexploring new preventive strategies. Recent life changes in the social, personal and workdomains, especially in women, can act as stressors that could be associated to increasedAC, possibly as a coping mechanism. Unfortunately, there is limited research on AC withinthe population of Buenos Aires. Consequently, this work represents a significantadvancement in the identification of risk factors related to AC in this population.