Differential Alcohol Expectancies Based on Type of Alcoholic Beverage Consumed

Abstract

ABSTRACT. Objective: Expectancies regarding the global effects of alcohol are infl uential aspects of drinking behavior that can vary by type of beverage consumed. Lacking in the research literature is a thorough investigation of how expected effects and subjective evaluations of specifi c positive (e.g., increased sociability, relaxation) and specifi c negative (e.g., impairment, aggression) expectancy effects vary by different types of alcoholic beverages. Method: The present between-subjects study used a sample of 498 young adults randomized to complete a measure of alcohol expectancies based on one of three alcohol-type conditions (beer, wine, distilled spirits). Participants also indicated the typical amount consumed of the beverage. Separate multivariate analysis of variance tests were run to determine if differences existed among the three conditions for positive and negative expected effects and subjective evaluations. Results: Findings suggested that individuals may expect different effects from consuming different types of alcoholic beverages. Participants expressed more agreement that wine would have relaxation effects and rated this effect more positively. Participants expressed more disagreement that beer or shots would have effects on sexuality and rated sexuality effects more positively for wine. Participants reported less agreement that wine would have impairing effects, as well as more disagreement that wine would affect risk, aggression, and self-perception. Impairing effects of wine were also viewed less negatively than other condition beverages. Conclusions: Findings suggest that individuals may hold different beliefs about the effects of wine, compared with beer and shots of distilled spirits. Research and interventions targeting general alcohol expectancies may miss important between-beverage differences in perceived effects and subjective evaluations regarding alcohol's effects. (J. Stud. Alcohol Drugs, 71, 925-929, 2010)

Assessment of the Average Price and Ethanol Content of Alcoholic Beverages by Brand—United States, 2011

“…Ethanol content influences youth drinking in three ways. First, several studies demonstrate that preferences for types of alcoholic beverages with differing levels of alcohol are associated with different drinking patterns (Berger and Snortum, 1985; Clapp and Shillington, 2001; Gmel et al, 1999; Gronbaek et al, 1999, 2004; Hughes et al, 1997; Jensen et al, 2002; Klatsky et al, 1990; Klein and Pittman, 1990; Kuntsche, 2001; Kuntsche et al, 2006; Naimi et al, 2007; Pedersen et al, 2010; Rogers and Greenfield, 1999; Smart, 1996; Smart and Walsh, 1995; Snortum et al, 1987; Wicki et al, 2006). Second, ethanol content influences retail prices and packaging and therefore how much alcohol a youth with limited funds can purchase (Jones and Gregory, 2009).…”

Caffeinated Alcohol Use and Expectancies for Caffeine Versus Alcohol

“…Alcohol expectancies have been shown to differ depending on the alcohol type. Findings have shown, for example, that expectations for beer are more positive as compared to liquor while wine is perceive to be less risky than beer and liquor (Pedersen, Neighbors, & Larimer, 2010). Thus, in addition to learning about the role of caffeine versus alcohol expectancies in CAB use, it may be equally useful to learn about expectancies of the substances combined.…”

A beverage-specific measure of expectancies for malt liquor: Development and initial testing.

“…The resulting measure is unique and addresses three issues in the current literature on alcohol expectancies. First, it responds to the need for beverage-specific measures of alcohol expectancies, given the accumulating evidence that the content and predictive utility of alcohol expectancies can vary as a function of the nature of the alcoholic beverage being rated (e.g., Guarna & Rosenberg, 2000; Pedersen et al, 2010). To date, a key drawback of beverage-specific assessments of alcohol expectancies has been the adaptation of general alcohol expectancy measures to measure beliefs about different alcoholic beverages.…”

“…Expectancies vary with a number of individual and contextual variables, including the type of alcoholic beverage (Collins, Lapp, Emmons, & Isaac, 1990; Devoulyte, Stewart, & Theakston, 2006; Guarna & Rosenberg, 2000; Lang, Kass, & Barnes, 1983; Pedersen, Neighbors, & Larimer, 2010). For example, Guarna and Rosenberg (2000) randomly assigned DUI offenders to complete a separate copy of the same expectancy measure for each of five different alcoholic beverages.…”

“…In either case, potentially important beverage-specific beliefs are not being captured. Given the contextual factors that can influence the nature and content of alcohol expectancies as well as the recognition of the usefulness of beverage-specific expectancy measures (e.g., Guarna & Rosenberg, 2000; Pedersen et al, 2010), we developed the Malt Liquor Expectancy Questionnaire (MLEQ). The MLEQ was designed to provide a new measure of beliefs about the cognitive, social, and behavioral effects of ML.…”