Drunk in Public,Drunk in Private: The Relationship Between College Students,Drinking Environments and Alcohol Consumption

This study examines environmental differences in public (bars) and private (parties) drinking settings among of-age (21 and up years of age) and underage (18–20 years of age) college students attending college near the US/Mexico border. A random telephone survey of graduate and undergraduate students attending two large public universities in the southwestern United States was conducted during the 2000–2003 academic years. A university-based social science research laboratory conducted the telephone interviews with respondents who reported an occasion in the past 28 days where alcohol was being consumed (N = 4,964). The data were analyzed using ordinary least squares multiple regression. The results suggests that drinking settings contributed to the amount of alcohol consumed by respondents. Additionally, environmental factors contributing to drinking vary by setting. In general, having many people intoxicated at an event, BYOB parties, playing drinking games, and having illicit drugs available contribute to heavier drinking.     

Failure of College Students to Complete an Online Alcohol Education Course as a Predictor of High-Risk Drinking That Requires Medical Attention

Background: AlcoholEdu® for College and other computer-based education programs have been developed to reduce alcohol use and related problems among students. Objectives: This study investigated whether the failure of incoming first-year students to complete AlcoholEdu predicts future high-risk drinking that requires medical attention. Methods: A review of clinical records kept by a single university’s health service identified 684 undergraduates (classes of 2007–2011) who had presented for an alcohol event (September 2003 through June 2008). We used survival analysis to determine whether students who partially completed the course or failed to take it were disproportionately represented among student patients who presented with elevated blood alcohol concentration (BAC). Results: Students who failed to take the online course were 4.64 times more likely than those who completed it to experience an alcohol event (p < .0001), while those students who had partially completed the course were 1.52 times more likely (p < .0001). Amount of online alcohol education and gender were not significantly related to students’ measured BAC level. Conclusion: Students who had completed AlcoholEdu were less likely to present for an alcohol event than were students who partially completed or failed to take the course. Campus administrators should consider whether students who fail to complete an online alcohol course should be flagged for more focused interventions (e.g., brief motivational interview, mandatory education classes). Scientific Significance: This is the first study to show a relationship between first-year college students’ non-completion of an online alcohol course and subsequent high-risk drinking that requires medical attention.     

Hypertension Prevalence and Smoking/Alcohol Drinking Habit: Comparison between MONICA Data in Switzerland and Sample Survey Data in Liaoning,China

利用瑞士ＭＯＮＩＣＡ人群调查资料（１９８８～１９８９）和中国第三次高血压抽样调查辽宁省资料（１９９１），对两人群在高血压患病率、吸烟、饮酒状况及其与高血压联系进行比较分析。方法两人群资料在抽样、调查和诊断标准方面均一致可比。比较两人群间高血压患病率、吸烟率、饮酒率，并就吸烟、饮酒与高血压的关系做相对危险度比较和相关分析。结果无论性别和年龄，临界高血压患病率都是瑞士高于中国辽宁；而确诊高血压的情况恰恰相反。男性吸烟率在各年龄组均表现为中国辽宁高于瑞士；女性吸烟率在青年组瑞士较高，在老年组反而中国辽宁较高。对两人群资料分析结果均支持吸烟、饮酒可增加高血压（特别是临界高血压）患病危险。结论提示限制香烟、酒精饮料消耗对预防高血压有普遍意义。     

The Association Between Alcohol Use, Sexual Risk Behavior, and HIV Infection Among Men Attending Beerhalls in Harare, Zimbabwe

HIV testing and a behavioral survey were conducted with a cross-sectional sample of 324 men recruited at beerhalls in Harare, Zimbabwe, to examine the relationship among alcohol use, high-risk sexual behavior, and HIV infection among male beerhall patrons and to evaluate the feasibility of using beerhalls as venues for male-centered HIV prevention activities. Recent HIV seroconversions were identified using the less-sensitive enzyme immunoassay. HIV education activities were provided inside beerhalls and qualitative methods were used to assess the acceptability of conducting HIV prevention activities and research at beerhalls. The prevalence of HIV infection was 30%; the prevalence of recent seroconversion was 3.4%. Having sex while intoxicated in the previous 6 months was reported by 31% of men and was strongly associated with recent HIV seroconversion as well as unprotected sex with casual partners and paying for sex. Acceptability of prevention and research activities was high among beerhall patrons, managers, and owners. Beerhalls present an environment associated with high-risk sexual behavior and concomitantly high rates of HIV seroconversion. Beerhalls are appropriate and feasible venues for delivering HIV prevention programs targeted at men in many regions of sub-Saharan Africa and the world.     

Age of Drinking Onset as a Moderator of the Efficacy of Parent‐Based,Brief Motivational,and Combined Intervention Approaches to Reduce Drinking and Consequences Among College Students

Background: The current study tested age of onset as a moderator of intervention efficacy on drinking and consequence outcomes among a high‐risk population of college students (i.e., former high school athletes). Methods: Students were randomized to one of four conditions: assessment only control, combined parent‐based intervention (PBI) and brief motivational intervention (BMI), PBI alone, and BMI alone. Participants (n = 1,275) completed web‐administered measures at baseline (summer before starting college) and 10‐month follow‐up. Results: Overall, the combined intervention demonstrated the strongest and most consistent reductions across all outcomes, particularly with the youngest initiators. Participants who initiated drinking at the youngest ages had significantly lower peak drinking, typical weekly drinking, and reported consequences at follow‐up when they received the combined intervention when compared to the control group. The BMI and PBI groups, when examined independently, demonstrated significant effects across outcomes but were inconsistent across the different age groups. Conclusion: Results suggest the combination of a PBI and a peer‐delivered BMI is an appropriate and efficacious way to reduce drinking and related consequences among individuals who initiated drinking earlier in adolescence and are at an increased risk of experiencing alcohol problems.     

Alcohol use and cardiovascular health outcomes: a comparison across age and gender in the Winnipeg Health and Drinking Survey Cohort

Background: research has reliably demonstrated cardioprotectionfrom regular alcohol use. Heavy episodic drinking (HED), however,negates these beneficial effects and increases the risk of cardiovasculardisease (CVD). The impact of age on the health effects of episodicdrinking has not been evaluated. Objective: to examine the association between alcohol volumeand pattern of consumption on the risk of cardiovascular morbidityand mortality across the lifespan. Design and Setting: prospective, community-based cohort studyof adults in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada. Subjects: a total of 1,154 participants (580 men and 574 women)aged 18–64 surveyed at baseline (1990–91) on alcoholconsumption levels and pattern of use. Methods: usual alcohol consumption was measured using a quantity–frequencyapproach. HED was estimated by asking participants how oftenthey consumed eight or more drinks in one sitting in the pastyear. Questions were asked separately for wine, beer and spirits.Surveillance for cardiovascular events was conducted for 10years (i.e. up to age 74 years). Diagnoses of CVD were obtainedvia health utilization records. Cox proportional hazard modelswere derived for both genders and for ‘young adults’(baseline age 18–34), ‘middle-aged adults’(baseline age 35–49) and ‘older adults’ (baseline50–64). Models were adjusted for marital status, cigarettesmoking status and educational level. Results: Reduced risk of CVD was associated with usual consumption,whereas an increased risk was associated with HED. Among maleusual drinkers, cardioprotection was afforded only to middleand older age groups. The benefits of regular consumption wereseen only in the youngest age group among women. The heaviestusual consumption category was associated with a decreased riskof CVD in men. Heavy episodic drinking increased the risk ofcoronary heart disease in middle-aged men and was marginallysignificant in middle-aged women. Risk of hypertension was elevatedin older men with heavy episodic drinking. Conclusions: The well-established relationship between regularalcohol consumption and decreased risk of CVD may not becomeevident until middle age or older in men. Women may benefitfrom usual consumption at a much younger age. In both sexes,however, these beneficial effects of alcohol use are negatedwhen alcohol is consumed in a heavy episodic drinking pattern,particularly for middle-aged and older men.     

Alcohol Norms, Expectancies, and Reasons for Drinking and Alcohol Use in a U.S. Versus a Japanese College Sample

Two hundred eighty-two students at Arizona State University in the U.S. and 339 students at Okayama University in Japan completed a questionnaire on their alcohol use, expectancies of the effects of alcohol on their own and others' moods and behaviors, the desirability of these effects, norms of signifiant others for levels of alcohol use and the subject's desire to comply with these norms, and reasons for drinking and not drinking alcohol. Although frequencies of current drinkers versus abstainers did not differ between the two samples, the U.S. students began regular alcohol use at a significantly earlier age, currently drank more alcohol, had higher alcohol expectancies for emotional responses, and endorsed more celebratory reasons for drinking than their Japanese counterparts. U.S. students, however, had lower expectancies for flushing and lower perceived norms for drinking. Hierarchical multiple regressions performed using data from the current drinkers indicated that expectancies of disinhibition and especially aggressiveness after alcohol use, alcohol norms, celebratory (but not pathological) reasons for drinking, and reasons for not drinking were more predictive of reported levels of alcohol use among the US. students as compared with the Japanese students.     

Non-linear relationships between cognitive function and alcohol consumption in young, middle-aged and older adults: the PATH Through Life Project

AIMS: To investigate associations, including non-linear relationships, between cognitive function and alcohol consumption, testing for moderating effects of age and gender and for differences across outcome measures. Design Cross-sectional general population samples of three age cohorts. Setting Canberra and Queanbeyan, Australia. PARTICIPANTS: The total sample of 7485 consisted of 2404 men and women aged 20-24 years, 2530 aged 40-44 years, and 2551 aged 60-64 years, selected from the electoral rolls. Measurements Self-report data using hand-held computers provided weekly alcohol consumption from the Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test (AUDIT) frequency, quantity and binge-drinking items, and socio-demographic factors. Spot-the-Word, digits backwards, the Symbol-Digit Modalities Test (SDMT), immediate recall and reaction-time tests were conducted by trained interviewers. FINDINGS: Findings varied across dependent variables, but there was a general tendency for light drinkers (up to 20/10 g alcohol per day in men/women, respectively) to perform better than abstainers, occasional drinkers or those drinking at hazardous/harmful levels (>40/20 g per day in men/women). Poorer performance of hazardous/harmful drinkers was seen only in men, whereas that of abstainers was evident in both sexes but was stronger in women. After adjustment for education and race, male hazardous/harmful drinkers no longer performed significantly less well than light drinkers, whereas male and female abstainers and occasional drinkers still did so. CONCLUSIONS: Abstainers have poorer cognitive function than light drinkers and further investigation is needed to determine what factors contribute to this.     

Age of onset of drinking and the use of alcohol in adulthood: a follow-up study from age 8-42 for females and males

Aim To investigate longitudinally for both genders the relation between the age of onset of drinking and several indicators of alcohol use. Design and setting In the Finnish Jyväskylä Longitudinal Study of Personality and Social Development, data have been collected by interviews, inventories, and questionnaires. Data on alcohol consumption was gathered at ages 14, 20, 27, 36 and 42 years; behavioural data at age 8. Participants A total of 155 women and 176 men; 90.4% of the original sample consisting of 12 complete school classes in 1968. Measurements The age of onset of drinking was determined based on participants’ responses that were closest to the actual age of onset of drinking. Four indicators of the adult use of alcohol were used: frequency of drinking, binge drinking, Cut‐down, Annoyed, Guilt, Eye‐opener (CAGE) and Malmö modified Michigan Alcoholism Screening Test (Mm‐MAST). Socio‐emotional behaviour at age 8 was assessed using teacher ratings and peer nominations. Findings Early onset of drinking was related to the four indicators of the use of alcohol in adulthood both in men and women. The level of adult alcohol use and alcohol problems was significantly higher in men. The risk for heavy drinking was highest in men and women if drinking was started at less than age 16 years. Socio‐emotional behaviour and school success at age 8 did not predict the age of onset of drinking. Conclusions Delaying the initiation of drinking from early adolescence to late adolescence is an important goal for prevention efforts. No clear risk group for early initiators of drinking could be identified on the basis of preceding behaviour among 8‐year‐olds.     

The Role of Global Mental Health and Type-D Personality in Predicting Alcohol Use Among a Sample of College Students

The purpose of this study was to describe the relationship between mental health and Type D personality with problematic drinking among college students. A sample of students from a large southwestern university (N = 334) completed a self-assessment survey including the Kessler K6 Scale and Denollett's Type-D Personality Scale, along with alcohol-related variables. Results indicated that students with a high risk for 12-month serious mental illness consumed more alcohol (p = .001) and were more likely to binge drink (p = .004). Type D personality and mental health status also moderately predicted alcohol consumption (adjusted R^I = .042). Implications for future research and practice are discussed.     

The Relationships between per capita Consumption, Drinking Patterns and Alcohol Related Problems in a Population Sample, 1965–1974. Part I: Increased Consumption and Changes in Drinking Patterns

Sample surveys of the population of the same London suburb, conducted in 1965 and 1974, were studied to trace changes in drinking habits. Over the nine year period, per capita consumption increased 47%, but there was no change in the proportion of abstainers, and the drinking population did not drink any morefrequently in 1974 than they had in 1965. The increase in mean consumption was due largely to a 56% increase in average drinking day consumption. Drinking on weekdays became as frequent and as heavy as weekend drinking had been in 1965, and there was also a general shift towards drinking more at home. The populations were categorised into 18 demographic sub-groups on the basis of age, sex and occupational status. Each group followed the main trend in overall consumption, except for changes in the types of beverage consumed. Relative differences between the drinking habits of the sexes and the age groups remained fairly consistent, but the frequency of drinking and the beverage choice of the lower status group moved closer towards that of the upper status group. Changes in drinking habits within the suburb which did not replicate national changes were related to factors peculiar to the suburb's population, but a consideration of the validity of sample data concluded that such longitudinal surveys could produce valid and reliable data on changes in overall drinking habits.