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Young adults who engage in pre-drinking, also called pre-gaming, are more likely to drink heavily over the course of an evening than those who don't pre-drink, a new study from Switzerland suggests.
Pre-drinking involves drinking alcohol at home or in a public place, such as a park, before going to a party or bar. Drinkers may want to achieve a "buzz" or get drunk before going out, sometimes in an effort to save money by buying less at the bar.
The study also found that those who pre-drank were more likely to suffer risky or unfavorable consequences of drinking, such as blackouts, hangovers, unplanned substance abuse or unprotected sex.
Pre-drinking is a bigger problem in the U.S. because the legal drinking age is higher than in Switzerland, said Dr. Christopher Welsh, an addiction psychiatrist at University of Maryland who was not involved with the study.
"Young adults are drinking a lot more before they go out, knowing they won't be able to drink at the bar, or party or college event," Welsh said.
The study will be published in the February issue of Alcoholism: Clinical and Experimental Research.
Pre-gaming doesn't reduce how much alcohol people drink
Some studies have reported that up to 75 percent of U.S. college students engage in pre-drinking. The studies also found that, on average, young men tend to have three to five drinks, while women have two to four drinks during a pre-drinking session.
The goal of saving money by pre-drinking doesn't usually work, Welsh said.
"People want to lower the cost of buying booze," he said. "But they tend to drink just as much as they would at the bar than if they didn't pre-drink."
So they end up spending even more money on alcohol than they initially intended, when taking into account money spent both at the bar and to drink at home.
"People should drink moderately — anywhere, anytime — and the same applies to pre-drinking," said study researcher, Florian Labhart, a research associate from the Addiction Info Switzerland Research Institute.
"It seems trivial, but having one or two drinks at the beginning of the night will still have an impact on your behavior by the end of the night," Labhart said.
In the study, 183 participants were assessed every Thursday, Friday and Saturday for five weeks. Participants received six text messages per evening, with a link to a brief questionnaire asking how much alcohol they had drunk and where they were drinking.
Researchers found that respondents were more likely to experience risky consequences on evenings when they pre-drank than on evenings when they drank only at a bar or club, or only at home.
People who pre-drank consumed an average of seven drinks in an evening, while those who didn't pre-drink consumed only four.
Pre-drinking didn't reduce or replace the amount of alcohol people drank later in the evening, but instead increased their risk of suffering negative consequences caused by even more drinking, said Shannon Kenney, a social psychologist at Loyola Marymount University in Los Angeles who was not involved with the study.
Blackouts and hangovers were the most commonly reported consequences in the study. Respondents also engaged in substance abuse and unprotected sex.
Keeping track of your drinking
Kenney said that pre-gaming is such a popular behavior that it's unrealistic to think that young adults would stop.
So people who pre-drink should be "more mindful of pacing drinks, or eating before drinking, so they have food in their stomachs," she said.
She also recommended alternating drinking alcohol with drinking water throughout the evening.
"Early on, be aware of your internal bodily sensations," Kenney said. "You're drinking lots of alcohol, so you don't have time to assess your level of intoxication."
Welsh said parents should keep an eye on how much alcohol they keep at home.
"For high school kids, it's harder for them to get alcohol, so they’re going to drink their parent's stash before they go out," he said.
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Why do we need to have research studies done on things we already know!
"Harvard Research Study suggests that playing in traffic is hazardous and could result in serious injury or death"
Ask the Swiss. They did this one.
Yes, Captain Obvious, PhD is really churning out some valuable research with this study. Can't wait to hear his findings on the possible causes of next morning hangovers.
I am eager to see the findings of a companion study on the benefits of Presexing, in which adolescents and young adults, in the comfort and seclusion of separate bedrooms, play with themselves before going out on a date.
Hell we would start drinking on Thursday afternoon getting warmed up for Friday night, waking up Sunday morning saying to ourselves WTF.
"Young adults who engage in pre-drinking, also called pre-gaming, are more likely to drink heavily over the course of an evening than those who don't pre-drink, a new study from Switzerland suggests."
Really? You don't say.
This could be the dumbest story I have ever read on msnbc
Never would assume that drinking before getting drunk results in more alcohol consumption...who knew?
When we did this back in the '80s it had nothing to do with money. It was so you could walk into a club and be part of the scene immediately...instead of looking like sober geeks.
Yep, drinking ahead of going out reduces social anxiety so when you go into a club or go dancing, you don't spend the first two hours trying to loosen up. Less expensive, less hassle, and more practical. Don't take more money into the club than you're going to spend on one or two additional drinks (plus cover charges). When your money's gone, drink water or go home.
If you need alcohol to feel like you are part of the "scene" or to reduce your social anxiety, then sobriety is NOT the reason your are seen to be a geek. And let's be honest, most of us are geeks in some way - no one is as cool as the "cool crowd" portrayed on TV or in the movies. Just those who are insecure think that the others are naturally cool. Few are...and they usually don't drink much (don't need to).
ttmadison's money limit IS a practical solution to overbuying. It does not eliminate the drunk driving to get to one's destination if one can't walk the distance, though. Nothing cool about getting into an accident.
I have never been able to discern what is 'cool' about being drunk or by drinking at all. I have never seen alcohol enhance even one single quality of any individual.
Alcohol has been helping ugly people get laid since Jesus was a pup.
Students who "pre-drink" actually consume more alcohol?
DUH-UH! Who'd have guessed?
This is like saying "college students who drink more alcohol are drinking more alcohol." Isn't that sort of obvious? By the way, the legal drinking age is still 21 in this country. Shouldn't only seniors be old enough to drink? How are the underclassmen getting all their ILLEGAL alcohol?
I also read in a study that girls that consume more are easier targets for guys that are wanting to get laid. I know, I know, I'm as surprised as you are.
There's nothing new about this, my parents' "Greatest Generation" AKA creators of the Three Martini Lunch "pre-drank." They compounded the damage with the party exiting "one for the road" dictum. All that booze and no seat belts in 5,000 lb., 400 HP Buicks. Wow, what could go wrong?
Best way to pre-game and save a few bucks (as long as you're over 21) is to use SaveOnBrew dot Com. Wish we had that when i was in college.
Let me get this straight - if I start drinking earlier in the evening...I can drink more beer before going to sleep...AND I won't pay $7 for a beer at a bar when the ones in my fridge are only $2?!
So, more time to drink = more drinks!!! AND less money spent per beer?!
The freaking Swiss are genius! I'm calling all my drinking buddies and we are so going to try this!!
In other news: A "road soda" is not a soda at all, but a mobile form of "pre-drinking."
Yeah, why am I reading this 25 years after I did this very thing. Just call me next time and save valuable research money.
Don't worry everyone...I've already alerted CNN, Fox and MSNBC as well as the Nobel Committee. The idea that young people (you know who you are) drink prior to drinking...Holy Crap. You mean to tell me...it's okay to drink before you drink...My entire life has been a sham...if I only knew this before...I mean, now that I think about it...it makes sense...you know, you wouldn't want to drive to the bar sober...that's like some kind of fifth dimensional thing. Next thing you know...people will be smoking pot before going to the Hash Bar...Oh My God!!!!
Stating the Obvious WOW!
One word for this article: DUH.
Who the frack is this loser that wrote the article. LAME. Must be bored?
The college students involved in this decadent, illegal conduct, deserve whatever they get: alcohol-induced coma and death, incarceration, et al.
What a pity so many continue to pray at the alcohol altar, apparently believing it makes them grown-up. Sad people feel the need to pump their bodies full of drugs.
"Pre-drinking leads to more booze, drugs and sex" .... I miss college
Reminds me of a Gallagher joke.
"People tell you to eat before you go to the grocery store that way you don't buy as much. That don't work with a liquor store, does it? You go there drunk you buy everything they got. "Let me have that 55 gallon drum of ripple."
My wife and I are in our 60's, and dedicated pre-drinkers because we're cheap. We get our buzz on at home, then drink conservatively at the club while we enjoy the band, friends, whatever. At home premium beers are $1.50, in bars up to $6. It just makes sense. Besides, it gives us the rep of being light drinkers. We did this in college as well, but neither of us experienced an increase in sex or drugs. Dammit.