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Alcohol Mixed with Energy Drinks: Daily Context of Use
Author(s) -
LindenCarmichael Ashley N.,
LauBarraco Cathy
Publication year - 2017
Publication title -
alcoholism: clinical and experimental research
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.267
H-Index - 153
eISSN - 1530-0277
pISSN - 0145-6008
DOI - 10.1111/acer.13357
Subject(s) - odds , context (archaeology) , medicine , odds ratio , environmental health , demography , poison control , alcohol , injury prevention , suicide prevention , gerontology , logistic regression , geography , biochemistry , chemistry , archaeology , sociology
Background The link between use of alcohol mixed with energy drinks (Am ED s) and alcohol‐related harms is well established, but limited research has examined the context in which Am ED s are consumed. Identifying the social and environmental characteristics of use may illuminate whether Am ED s are used in settings that could increase the likelihood of engaging in risky behaviors or experiencing harms. This study used a 2‐week daily diary assessment to compare days in which Am ED s were consumed (“Am ED days”) and days where other types of alcohol were used (“non‐Am ED days”) on where, when, and with whom drinking occurred. Methods Participants were 122 (90 women) heavy drinking college students who reported mixing caffeine with alcohol at least once in the past week. Data were collected across 389 drinking days; 40 of these days involved Am ED use. Results Multilevel modeling findings revealed that odds of drinking Am ED s were higher on days where individuals drank at a bar or club and drank at home relative to other locations. In addition, odds of pregaming were higher on Am ED days as compared to non‐Am ED days. Am ED use was linked with lower odds of drinking game behavior. Conclusions Overall, Am ED s appear to be consumed in potentially risky contexts. In combination with prior findings that Am ED days are linked with heavier alcohol use and more harms experienced, these findings support the unique nature of Am ED consumption in terms of the factors that may predict or maintain potentially hazardous drinking patterns.