Alcohol prevention at sporting events: study protocol for a quasi-experimental control group study

Abstract

BackgroundAlcohol intoxication and overserving of alcohol at sporting events are of great concern, given the relationships between alcohol consumption, public disturbances, and violence. During recent years this matter has been on the agenda for Swedish policymakers, authorities and key stakeholders, with demands that actions be taken. There is promising potential for utilizing an environmental approach to alcohol prevention as a strategy to reduce the level of alcohol intoxication among spectators at sporting events. Examples of prevention strategies may be community mobilization, Responsible Beverage Service training, policy work, and improved controls and sanctions. This paper describes the design of a quasi-experimental control group study to examine the effects of a multi-component community-based alcohol intervention at matches in the Swedish Premier Football League.MethodsA baseline assessment was conducted during 2015 and at least two follow-up assessments will be conducted in 2016 and 2017. The two largest cities in Sweden are included in the study, with Stockholm as the intervention area and Gothenburg as the control area. The setting is Licensed Premises (LP) inside and outside Swedish football arenas, in addition to arena entrances. Spectators are randomly selected and invited to participate in the study by providing a breath alcohol sample as a proxy for Blood Alcohol Concentration (BAC). Actors are hired and trained by an expert panel to act out a standardized scene of severe pseudo-intoxication. Four types of cross-sectional data are generated: (i) BAC levels among ≥ 4 200 spectators, frequency of alcohol service to pseudo-intoxicated patrons attempting to purchase alcohol at LP (ii) outside the arenas (≥200 attempts) and (iii) inside the arenas (≥ 200 attempts), and (iv) frequency of security staff interventions towards pseudo-intoxicated patrons attempting to enter the arenas (≥ 200 attempts).DiscussionThere is an urgent need nationally and internationally to reduce alcohol-related problems at sporting events, and it is essential to test prevention strategies to reduce intoxication levels among spectators. This project makes an important contribution not only to the research community, but also to enabling public health officials, decision-makers, authorities, the general public, and the sports community, to implement appropriate evidence-based strategies.

Underage alcohol sales in community sporting clubs

“…The findings also indicate the need for multi‐component, community‐based interventions that include community mobilisation, policy work, media advocacy as well as additional RSA education and training to promote more responsible alcohol cultures and ultimately a safer community sports environment. The impact of similar interventions is being studied at professional sporting arenas . A logical next step is to expand purchase observations at community sporting clubs and include a community‐based intervention that is evaluated by way of a pre–post design similar to intervention studies conducted in other contexts .…”

Overserving and Allowed Entry of Obviously Alcohol‐Intoxicated Spectators at Sporting Events

“…Results reveal that approximately half of all spectators have consumed alcohol, and almost 1 of 10 spectators has a mean BAC of 0.135%, indicating severe intoxication (Durbeej et al, ). Based on our previously developed RBS program (Månsdotter et al., ; Trolldal et al., ; Wallin et al., , , ), we have developed a multicomponent community‐based alcohol prevention intervention, which will utilize an environmental approach at the local level (Durbeej et al., ). Apart from RBS training of serving staff and training of security staff, selected strategies include community mobilization, policy work, improved controls and sanctions, media advocacy, and PR work.…”

“…This study has been approved by the Regional Ethical Review Board in Stockholm (registration no. 2015/860‐31/5) and is part of a larger project, aiming to reduce alcohol‐related problems among spectators at SPFL football matches (Durbeej et al., ).…”

Examination of the daily drinking patterns and their relationships with alcohol dependence symptoms among adult users in Burkina Faso

“…Thursday was an administrative break period in the Burkinabe educational system, and Thursday afternoon has been devoted to mass sports for the entire nation and seems to be a period of time-off or relaxation favorable to social encounters. Thursday afternoon alcohol consumption among the general population in Burkina Faso would have mimicked drinking practice during "third half-time" in sports [25,26].…”