“She’s getting married; I’m getting drunk”: women’s risk and protective strategies at bachelorette parties

Abstract

Objective: Bachelorette parties comprise a common setting where young, reproductive-aged women engage in high-risk drinking behaviors. This study examines drinking behaviors among bachelorette party attendees, and identifies the individual and party related characteristics that influence these behaviors. Method: 122 young women (Mean age = 25.1 ± 4.0 years) responded to an online survey assessing drinking-related behaviors associated with the most recent bachelorette party attended in the past 12 months. Results: More than 80% of our sample reported drinking at the bachelorette party they attended, with an average of five drinks consumed the day of the party. Drinking behaviors of party attendees bore a strong correspondence to their typical drinking behaviors. Parties organized in public locations and with larger sizes were more likely to be associated with heavier drinking than parties organized in private settings and with fewer attendees. Overall, the presence of safety plans was associated with a lower likelihood of drunk driving; however in the presence of underage attendees, safety plans were linked to greater alcohol consumption. Conclusions: Given the rise in bachelorette parties and the high costs associated with binge-drinking among women, there is a growing need to develop interventions that can reduce women’s involvement in risky drinking behaviors.

• Bachelorette parties
• drinking behaviors
• safety plans
• reproductive-aged women