Young-adult malt liquor drinkers: Prediction of alcohol problems and marijuana use.

Abstract

Malt liquor (ML) is a cheap, high alcohol content beverage that is marketed to appeal to young adults. Findings from the few published studies of ML use suggest that it may be associated with excessive drinking, alcohol problems, and the use of illicit drugs. The authors conducted separate hierarchical multiple regressions to examine the role of ML use and psychosocial variables (e.g., personality, ML motives) in alcohol-related problems and marijuana use. Demographic characteristics served as controls. The sample consisted of 639 (456 men, 183 women) young adults (M = 22.9 years, SD = 4.2) who regularly (> or =40 oz/week) consumed ML. ML use significantly and positively predicted alcohol problems, ML-specific problems, and marijuana use, above and beyond their associations with typical alcohol use. Marijuana was the illicit drug of choice, and 46% reported concurrent use of marijuana and ML. Those who concurrently used ML and marijuana began drinking at a younger age and reported more substance use (particularly marijuana) and more alcohol-related problems than did non-concurrent users. These results suggest that ML use may represent a risk for alcohol problems and marijuana use.

Neighborhood Disadvantage, High Alcohol Content Beverage Consumption, Drinking Norms, and Drinking Consequences: A Mediation Analysis

“…Prior research has emphasized malt liquor as a possible contributor to negative consequences in disadvantaged minority neighborhoods. [37][38][39][40] We argue that greater scrutiny of current advertising and tax policy in the US related to distilled spirits/liquor sales is needed to prevent future drinking problems.…”

“…73,74 Higher consumption of malt liquor and distilled spirits/liquor was associated with reporting more negative drinking consequences. Previous studies have also shown that malt liquor use is associated with heavy drinking and more aggressive behavior and to a variety of nuisance crimes 35,[37][38][39] ; other studies have shown that distilled spirits/liquor consumption is linked to heavy and dependent drinking, liver cirrhosis, and other health problems such as head and neck cancer mortality. 41 It is possible that the relationships between consumption of high-alcohol-content beverages and negative drinking consequences are due to heavy drinking in general.…”

“…34 The promotion of high-alcohol-content beverages is of particular concern. Malt liquor consumption is associated with frequent daily drinking, heavy drinking, 35,36 and problem behaviors such as drug use, theft, disorderly conduct, assaults, and panhandling, [37][38][39][40] while consumption of spirits is associated with heavy and dependent drinking and cancer mortality. 41 Drinking norms reflect common rules regarding the appropriateness of drinking, and they help regulate social behavior.…”

Malt Liquor Marketing in Inner Cities: The Role of Neighborhood Racial Composition

“…It is highly available in inner-city retail outlets, and costs approximately half as much per ounce of ethanol as regular beer (Jones-Webb et al, 2008). Malt liquor is associated with more frequent daily drinking (Bluthenthal, Brown Taylor, GuzmanBecerra, & Robinson, 2005;Chen & Paschall, 2003), heavier drinking (Bradizza, Collins, Vincent, & Falco, 2006;Chen & Paschall, 2003;Kaskutas, 2000), and problem behaviors, such as drinking and driving, drug use, and theft (Chen & Paschall, 2003;Collins, Bradizza, & Vincent, 2007;Vilamovska, Brown-Taylor, & Bluthenthal, 2009). Some U.S. cities have restricted the sale of malt liquor in an attempt to curtail nuisance crimes associated with its consumption, such as public drinking, panhandling, and litter (Hayden, 2002;Tarnai, 2009).…”

Effects of Policies to Restrict Malt Liquor Sales on Neighborhood Crime

“…Department of Health and Human Services, 2008). These bottles have almost as much alcohol as a six-pack of regular beer, but are commonly sold for a fraction of the price (Collins, Bradizza, & Vincent, 2007;. Malt liquor is readily available and heavily promoted in many poor, inner-city neighborhoods.…”