Pre-Drinking Behavior of Young Heavy Drinkers

Pre-drinking has been linked to subsequent heavy drinking and the engagement in multiple risky behaviors. Objectives: The present study examined a group of adolescents who recently had a “big night out” to determine whether there were differences in their pre-drinking behavior based on age, gender,...

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Main Authors: Ogeil, R., Lloyd, B., Lam, T., Lenton, S., Burns, L., Aiken, A., Gilmore, W., Chikritzhs, Tanya, Mattick, R., Allsop, S., Lubman, D.
Format: Journal Article
Published: Informa Healthcare 2016
Online Access:http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.11937/40641
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author Ogeil, R.
Lloyd, B.
Lam, T.
Lenton, S.
Burns, L.
Aiken, A.
Gilmore, W.
Chikritzhs, Tanya
Mattick, R.
Allsop, S.
Lubman, D.
author_facet Ogeil, R.
Lloyd, B.
Lam, T.
Lenton, S.
Burns, L.
Aiken, A.
Gilmore, W.
Chikritzhs, Tanya
Mattick, R.
Allsop, S.
Lubman, D.
author_sort Ogeil, R.
building Curtin Institutional Repository
collection Online Access
description Pre-drinking has been linked to subsequent heavy drinking and the engagement in multiple risky behaviors. Objectives: The present study examined a group of adolescents who recently had a “big night out” to determine whether there were differences in their pre-drinking behavior based on age, gender, geographic location, and social setting. Methods: Participants (n = 351, aged 16–19) representing the heaviest 20–25% of drinkers in their age group were recruited using nonrandom sampling from metropolitan (Melbourne, Sydney, Perth) or regional (Bunbury) locations across Australia and administered a survey by a trained interviewer. Results: Almost half the sample pre-drank (n = 149), most commonly at a friend's house. Those aged 18–19 were more likely to pre-drink, and did so at higher quantities compared to their younger counterparts. Males and females reported similar pre-drinking duration, quantity and amount spent on alcohol. Compared to those in cities, regional participants consumed greater quantities over longer periods of time. Two-thirds of participants consumed alcohol in excess of national guidelines during their pre-drinking session. These participants were more likely to nominate price as a motivation to pre-drink and were less likely to report that someone else provided them alcohol. Conclusions: This study sheds light on the pre-drinking habits of a population of young risky drinkers, and highlights the need for policy makers to address this form of drinking to reduce alcohol-related harm among young people.
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spelling curtin-20.500.11937-406412017-09-13T13:41:44Z Pre-Drinking Behavior of Young Heavy Drinkers Ogeil, R. Lloyd, B. Lam, T. Lenton, S. Burns, L. Aiken, A. Gilmore, W. Chikritzhs, Tanya Mattick, R. Allsop, S. Lubman, D. Pre-drinking has been linked to subsequent heavy drinking and the engagement in multiple risky behaviors. Objectives: The present study examined a group of adolescents who recently had a “big night out” to determine whether there were differences in their pre-drinking behavior based on age, gender, geographic location, and social setting. Methods: Participants (n = 351, aged 16–19) representing the heaviest 20–25% of drinkers in their age group were recruited using nonrandom sampling from metropolitan (Melbourne, Sydney, Perth) or regional (Bunbury) locations across Australia and administered a survey by a trained interviewer. Results: Almost half the sample pre-drank (n = 149), most commonly at a friend's house. Those aged 18–19 were more likely to pre-drink, and did so at higher quantities compared to their younger counterparts. Males and females reported similar pre-drinking duration, quantity and amount spent on alcohol. Compared to those in cities, regional participants consumed greater quantities over longer periods of time. Two-thirds of participants consumed alcohol in excess of national guidelines during their pre-drinking session. These participants were more likely to nominate price as a motivation to pre-drink and were less likely to report that someone else provided them alcohol. Conclusions: This study sheds light on the pre-drinking habits of a population of young risky drinkers, and highlights the need for policy makers to address this form of drinking to reduce alcohol-related harm among young people. 2016 Journal Article http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.11937/40641 10.3109/10826084.2016.1168443 Informa Healthcare restricted
spellingShingle Ogeil, R.
Lloyd, B.
Lam, T.
Lenton, S.
Burns, L.
Aiken, A.
Gilmore, W.
Chikritzhs, Tanya
Mattick, R.
Allsop, S.
Lubman, D.
Pre-Drinking Behavior of Young Heavy Drinkers
title Pre-Drinking Behavior of Young Heavy Drinkers
title_full Pre-Drinking Behavior of Young Heavy Drinkers
title_fullStr Pre-Drinking Behavior of Young Heavy Drinkers
title_full_unstemmed Pre-Drinking Behavior of Young Heavy Drinkers
title_short Pre-Drinking Behavior of Young Heavy Drinkers
title_sort pre-drinking behavior of young heavy drinkers
url http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.11937/40641