Drinking before going out—A predictor of negative nightlife experiences in a German inner city area
Received 3 August 2009; received in revised form 8 October 2009; accepted 9 October 2009. published online 13 November 2009. Corrected Proof
Abstract
Objective
The aim of the presented study is to identify target groups for early interventions to reduce negative effects of nightlife alcohol consumption and negative nightlife experiences (e.g. involvement in fights) as well as to examine the consumption patterns and identify the need for further interventions.
Method
A cross-sectional survey of 308 persons in a German city centre during night time. Measurements: A questionnaire including questions on basic demographics, alcohol consumed prior to and during a typical night out, drug usage and experiences of the city's nightlife in the previous 12 months.
Results
Two-thirds of the interviewees repeated a hazardous or high alcohol consumption pattern on a night out. We found several predictors for negative nightlife experiences: those who are male, younger than 25, have a low level of education, show higher alcohol consumption (especially before going out), and take illicit drugs are at a particularly great risk of experiencing negative nightlife events.
Conclusions
We found several factors which increase the risk of experiencing negative effects of alcohol consumption. In particular, drinking before going out seems to be associated with aversive consequences.
aUniversity Medical Center Freiburg, Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Hauptstraße 5, 79104 Freiburg, Germany
bUniversity Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Center for Psychosocial Medicine, Department of Medical Psychology, Martinistraße 52, 20246 Hamburg, Germany
ABSTRACT