Drinking Location and Pregaming as Predictors of Alcohol Intoxication Among Mandated College Students

Abstract

Background Both drinking location and pregaming have been associated with heavy alcohol use among college students, yet the manner by which they uniquely contribute to alcohol intoxication remains unclear. Objective The current study examined the unique utility of drinking location and pregaming in predicting alcohol intoxication among college students who violated campus alcohol policy. Method Between 2011 and 2012, mandated college students who reported drinking prior to their referral events (N=212, 41% female, 80% White, Mage =19.4 y) completed a computerized assessment of drinking location and related behaviors as part of larger research trial. Chi-squared statistics, t-tests, one-way analyses of covariance, and regression were used to examine study aims. Results Participants were most likely (44%) to report drinking in off-campus housing prior to the referral event, and approximately half (47%) reported pregaming. Alcohol intoxication on the night of the referral event differed significantly as a function of both drinking location and pregaming, but pregaming did not moderate the association between drinking location and alcohol intoxication among mandated students. Female birth sex, pregaming, and drinking at either fraternities or off-campus housing predicted greater levels of alcohol intoxication on the night of the referral incident, while drinking in a residence hall/dorm predicted lower intoxication. Conclusions/Importance Drinking location and pregaming are distinct predictors of alcohol intoxication among mandated college students. Future interventions may benefit from targeting both where and how college students consume alcohol.

Drinking game participation, gender performance and normalization of intoxication among Nigerian university students

“…Because participants play games for competitive purposes, which often increases the frequency of DGs participation ( Zamboanga et al, 2014 ), this may also contribute to the frequency of drinking among them. Again, because off-campus locations that exacerbate students' drinking ( Miller, Borsari, Fernandez, Yurasek, & Hustad, 2016 ) are the sites for most of these games, the chances are that students may consume large quantities of alcohol. This is not only because there are no alcohol control policies that specify standard drinks (which can be used to judge whether a drinker has exceeded specified limits ( World Health Organization, 2014 )), but also because alcohol outlets are not monitored ( Dumbili, 2016b ).…”

An event- and network-level analysis of college students' maximum drinking day

“…Previous event-level research among college students has examined behaviors and individual- level characteristics that drive consumption and related consequences, but has often ignored the characteristics of individuals with whom these heavy drinking episodes occur (Grant, LaBrie, Hummer, & Lac, 2012; Mallett et al, 2017; Merrill, Vermont, Bachrach, & Read, 2013; Montes, LaBrie, & Froidevaux, 2016). For example, among males, drinking with other males is related to greater consumption compared to drinking with a mixed-sex group (Miller, Borsari, Fernandez, Yurasek, & Hustad, 2016). However, the paucity of literature in this area does not consider the characteristics of the social network members with whom the individual is drinking.…”

Guest Editor’s Introduction

“…Nevertheless, a focus on drinking context raises a host of research questions that will require answers before the SV prevention field can significantly advance. For instance, insofar as off-campus housing and Greek organizations constitute “hot spots” for college high-risk drinking (Barry, 2007; Miller, Borsari, Fernandez, Yurasek, & Hustad, 2016; Scott-Sheldon, Carey, & Carey, 2008; Tyler, Schmitz, Ray, Adams, & Simons, 2018), it will be important to identify the types of individuals who ordinarily are present in such settings who might be enlisted in SA bystander prevention programs, determine how the alcohol that is consumed at college underage drinking parties is obtained, and clarify the roles played by consumption of alcohol mixed with energy drinks and involvement in drinking games (e.g., “beer pong”) and fraternity events (e.g., tailgating) in episodes of SV occurring in and around Greek organizations. Despite their clear relevance for campus SV prevention efforts, such topics have received relatively little attention from researchers.…”