Do Responsible Beverage Service Programs Reduce Breath Alcohol Concentration Among Patrons: A Five-Month Follow-up of a Randomized Controlled Trial

Abstract

Aims: To examine whether the decrease in the mean breath alcohol concentration (BrAC) and the rowdy social atmosphere reported after one month remained stable in the five-month assessment. Design: Randomized controlled trial. Setting: University bars. Participants: The five-month assessment was based on 596 students visiting student bars during ordinary pub evenings. Intervention: Bartenders (n = 40) in 6 of 12 bars on a university campus underwent training programs in a randomized pattern. Bartenders in control bars did not participate in the program. Measurements: The BrAC and reported social atmosphere in a five-month follow-up assessment. Findings: All measurements (BrAC, rowdy, cozy, and high social atmosphere) showed that time had a significant decreasing effect. The positive effects on BrAC and rowdy atmosphere shown in the one-month follow-up were no longer evident after five months. Conclusion: The positive results after one month were not stable after five months. The study's limitations are noted.

Keywords:

• bartenders
• breath alcohol concentration (BrAC)
• beverage service programs