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Abstract
Background: Investigations examining the association between pregaming, or the consumption of alcohol prior to attending a social gathering or drinking establishment, and blood alcohol concentrations have primarily relied on estimations (i.e., Widmark equation), rather than objective biologic samples, such as breath alcohol concentration (BrAC). Objectives: The current study assessed: (1) pregaming, using quantity-based measures, among a sample of college and non-college affiliated bar patrons, (2) associations between pregaming intensity/status and participant intoxication (BrAC), and (3) whether participants who pregamed were more likely to identify as a hazardous drinker. Methods: 548 bar patrons provided data on the Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test-Consumption (AUDIT-C) and a single pregaming item assessing quantity of alcohol consumed prior to visiting a bar/restaurant district in 2015. BrAC samples were collected post interview. We used hierarchical linear regression models, respectively, to assess whether pregaming significantly impacted BrAC and whether presence of hazardous drinking predicted pregaming behavior. Results: After controlling for sex, race/ethnicity, age, student status, and Greek affiliation, the linear regression model explained 32.3% (R2 = .323) of the variance of BrAC levels (F(12) = 21.162, p < .001), with 4.30% of the variance explained solely by pregaming (β = 0.014; p < .001). The linear regression model to assess if harzardous drinking behavior (AUDIT-C) significantly predicted pregaming explained 31.2% (R2 = .312) of the variance of pregaming behavior (F(18) = 13.276, p < .001), with 4.2% of the variance explained solely by AUDIT-C scores (β = 0.280; p < .001). Conclusion: Findings further highlight pregaming as a harmful risk behavior linked to elevated levels of hazardous drinking and intoxication.
Disclosure statement
All authors declare that they have no conflicts of interest to report.
Additional information
Notes on contributors
Beth H. Chaney
All authors were involved in the study design and protocol for data collection and analysis. Beth Chaney and Ryan Martin conducted the literature review for the brief report. Beth Chaney conducted the statistical analysis, and wrote the first draft of the manuscript. All authors contributed to providing edits for subsequent drafts of the paper, and all authors approved the final manuscript.
Ryan J. Martin
All authors were involved in the study design and protocol for data collection and analysis. Beth Chaney and Ryan Martin conducted the literature review for the brief report. Beth Chaney conducted the statistical analysis, and wrote the first draft of the manuscript. All authors contributed to providing edits for subsequent drafts of the paper, and all authors approved the final manuscript.
Adam E. Barry
All authors were involved in the study design and protocol for data collection and analysis. Beth Chaney and Ryan Martin conducted the literature review for the brief report. Beth Chaney conducted the statistical analysis, and wrote the first draft of the manuscript. All authors contributed to providing edits for subsequent drafts of the paper, and all authors approved the final manuscript.
Joseph G. L. Lee
All authors were involved in the study design and protocol for data collection and analysis. Beth Chaney and Ryan Martin conducted the literature review for the brief report. Beth Chaney conducted the statistical analysis, and wrote the first draft of the manuscript. All authors contributed to providing edits for subsequent drafts of the paper, and all authors approved the final manuscript.
Jennifer Cremeens-Matthews
All authors were involved in the study design and protocol for data collection and analysis. Beth Chaney and Ryan Martin conducted the literature review for the brief report. Beth Chaney conducted the statistical analysis, and wrote the first draft of the manuscript. All authors contributed to providing edits for subsequent drafts of the paper, and all authors approved the final manuscript.
Michael L. Stellefson
All authors were involved in the study design and protocol for data collection and analysis. Beth Chaney and Ryan Martin conducted the literature review for the brief report. Beth Chaney conducted the statistical analysis, and wrote the first draft of the manuscript. All authors contributed to providing edits for subsequent drafts of the paper, and all authors approved the final manuscript.