Risky single-occasion drinking (RSOD) has dire consequences upon health and well-being including unplanned pregnancies, sexually transmitted diseases such as HIV/AIDS, crime, and car accidents. The prevalence of RSOD among young people is alarming. Despite this, as yet, a review of existing literature on RSOD amongst young people is lacking. This article will provide an overview of this area of research focusing on the definition of RSOD, its prevalence among young people, health and behavioural effects of RSOD, the perceived risk of RSOD among young people, and interventions to reduce RSOD in young people. In addition, recommendations are made for health educators interested in reducing the incidence of RSOD in young people.
A low-cost, readily-produced, written intervention focusing on recommended daily limits reduced risky drinking amongst women on Fridays. Further work on similar interventions is warranted.
Recent theories of enactment suggest that behaviour change is increased by planning how, where, and when to execute a behavioural response. Drawing on these theories, a brief planning intervention was designed and its effectiveness compared to an information-based health promotion programme (control). All participants were given information about the safe limits per drinking occasion and the adverse consequences of binge drinking, and were asked to drink within the safe limits in order to avoid these consequences. In addition, participants in the planning group received an option menu of possible responses for refusing a drink, asked to choose one strategy and specify a time and place in which the chosen strategy would be implemented. The planning intervention group did not differ from the control group on reported likelihood of future binge drinking, nor on levels of past drinking, age and gender. At a 2-week follow-up, members of the planning intervention group reported lower drinking frequency than controls. The implications of prior planning for interventions aimed at reducing alcohol-related harm are discussed.
The present study explores the correlates of adhering to the recent low-risk single-occasion drinking (LRSOD) guidelines. This was achieved by exploring key beliefs and attitudes underlying adherence to these guidelines within the framework of the theory of planned behaviour (TPB). Female students (n = 173) provided information about their LRSOD and beliefs and attitudes pertaining to LRSOD. Analyses of the resultant data showed the TPB to be significantly predictive of LRSOD, accounting for 27% of the variance, with normative beliefs, behavioural beliefs, and attitude emerging as significant predictors in the regression analysis. The implications of the study findings are discussed in terms of the current utility of the LRSOD limits for reducing alcohol-related harm.
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