Table 3 Summary table of the advantages and disadvantages of the quantity-frequency, graduated-frequency and short-term recall measures

Quantity-frequency measures

• Easily administered.

• Simple structure; respondents are more likely to understand the measure.

• Well-established (respondents are more likely to be familiar with the measure).

• Captures ‘usual’ drinking behaviour, unaffected by occasions or seasons where more alcohol consumption may occur.

• Can increase reliability by including beverage-specific questions.

• May not record heavy episodic drinking occasions.

Graduated-frequency measures

• Categories act as prompts for respondents.

• Answers are easily standardised to identify those drinking above the guidelines.

• Can increase reliability by including beverage-specific questions.

• May not record heavy episodic drinking occasions.

Short-term recall measures

• Can focus questions on specific drinking events.

• Requires respondents to consider their responses to a greater extent (as answers are not structured).

• Respondents can report their alcohol consumption (in standard drinks sizes, units etc.) in a way they are familiar with.

• Can increase reliability by including beverage-specific questions.

• Hard to standardise answers to the same measure recorded in different formats.

• Respondents may be confused by lack of response options.