Alcohol consumption and protective behavioural strategy use among Australian young adults

A review of factors influencing drinking behaviours in young Australian adults using a behavioural framework approach

“…Drinking approach Awareness to self‐manage intoxication (i.e., by mixing alcoholic beverages with water, keeping track of the number of drinks consumed, setting a drink limit for the drinking occasion, drinking until a certain time, consuming food and water with alcohol and before consuming alcohol, knowing limits to avoid negative outcomes, controlling drinking when there is something to attend the next morning, knowing the location of their drink at all times, monitoring consumption and remaining in control) [44, 47, 53–55]. …”

“…• Increasing awareness of safe drinking practices, promoting alcohol-free activities as alternatives to alcohol inclusive events, and diversionary activities to alleviate boredom and motivate achievement and self-empowerment [75]. Drinking approach • Awareness to self-manage intoxication (i.e., by mixing alcoholic beverages with water, keeping track of the number of drinks consumed, setting a drink limit for the drinking occasion, drinking until a certain time, consuming food and water with alcohol and before consuming alcohol, knowing limits to avoid negative outcomes, controlling drinking when there is something to attend the next morning, knowing the location of their drink at all times, monitoring consumption and remaining in control) [44,47,[53][54][55]. Social • Becoming bored with drinking games [41].…”

“…The most commonly identified factors that lead to increased alcohol consumption were associated with physical opportunity (i.e., drinking in licenced and nonlicenced locations [34][35][36][37][38][39][40][41][42]; drinking beer and spirits [34,35,37,38,41]); social opportunity (i.e., social influence and being surrounded by others who are drinking [37,[43][44][45][46][47]); and reflective motivation (i.e., drinking for psychological enhancement [36,44,46,[48][49][50][51][52]). The most commonly identified factors that lead to decreased alcohol consumption were associated with psychological capability (i.e., awareness to self-manage intoxication [44,47,[53][54][55]); physical capability (i.e., needing to drive a motor vehicle [43,45]); physical opportunity (i.e., avoiding sites of alcohol consumption [44,47,56]); and social opportunity (i.e., having peer support to reduce alcohol consumption [45,53]).…”

Risk perception in young women’s collective alcohol consumption

“…They adopted a collective view of risk and constructed strategies to minimise the perceived risks. Individual edgeworkers sometimes assumed roles within the group (Armstrong, Watling, Davey and Darvell, 2014; Hutton and Wright, 2014; Hutton et al , 2013), to keep themselves safe (Armstrong, Watling, Davey and Darvell, 2014; Crawford-Williams et al , 2013; Howard et al , 2007; Pearson, 2013; Hutton and Wright, 2014). For example, an older woman may take on the maternal role within the group, monitoring consumption and behaviour to ensure the safety and integrity of the group (Armstrong, Watling, Davey and Darvell, 2014).…”

Playing it safe: Patron safety strategies and experience of violence in night‐time entertainment districts

“…For example, students who reported engaging in heavy drinking (six or more standard drinks on one occasion) were less likely to experience negative alcohol outcomes if they had engaged in protective strategies while drinking . However, there has been limited research into antecedents of, and outcomes directly related to, alcohol‐related safety strategies , with even fewer studies conducted with non‐college samples and within Australia .…”