A new field study investigated drinking intentions, alcohol consumption, and related consequences at Midwestern U.S. college football tailgates. Participants (N = 89) were adults aged 18 years and older who were recruited from tailgates on two game days. The research team approached groups of two or more people who were on campus shortly before each game, obtained consent, had participants complete the baseline assessment, and collected breath alcohol content (BrAC) measurements. Participants were also asked to share their contact information in order to receive a follow-up survey the next week. Sixty-two individuals (66.8%) completed the follow-up assessment. Baseline survey measures included drinking behaviors (drinks consumed the day of, past-two-week heavy episodic drinking), transportation to/from the tailgate, tailgate behavior/characteristics (with whom participants attended the event, engagement in drinking games, recreational drug use, plans to engage in recreational drug use), intoxication intentions (none, not drinking enough to get buzzed, getting slightly buzzed, getting a little drunk, and getting very drunk), alcohol-related consequences, and sociodemographic characteristics. The follow-up survey asked participants to report their alcohol consumption and the alcohol-related consequences they experienced following the tailgate. The authors conducted a bivariate analysis to link BrAC to alcohol consequences. Significant bivariate predictors were then included in two multivariate logistic regression models, which predicted drinking and alcohol consequences. Results indicated the sample was 55.1% (n = 49) male and the mean age was 29.7 years (standard deviation [SD] = 13.7); however, nearly a quarter of participants were under 21 years of age. About half of the sample (n = 42) were college students. The most commonly reported motives for attending the tailgate were socializing (87.6%) and having fun (51.7%). Nearly 7% of participants reported playing drinking games and 7.9% had used or planned to use recreational drugs. Over 80% of the sample reported they intended to not drink enough to get buzzed or only get a slight buzz, while 6.0% intended to get very drunk. Almost one in five participants (n = 17) planned to drive home after the tailgate and all but one individual in this group had a BrAC below the legal limit to drive. Results of the bivariate analysis indicated intention to become intoxicated was positively related to BrAC at the time of the survey (F = 15.5, p ≤ 0.001), but there were no significant differences in BrAC by frequency of heavy episodic drinking. At follow-up, BrAC levels were significantly associated with experiencing negative consequences (r = 0.313, p = 0.017), and number of drinks consumed (r = 0.543, p < 0.001). Results of the first multivariate logistic regression indicated the odds of drinking at the tailgate were greater for participants who intended to get a slight buzz (odds ratio [OR] = 4.3), a little drunk (OR = 17.9), or very drunk (OR = 9.6), controlling for sex, race, and age. In addition, participants who were 21 years or older were 3.4 times more likely to drink at the tailgate than those who were underage, controlling for sex, race, and drinking intention. Results of the second regression indicated drinking intention predicted alcohol consequences experienced at follow-up [slight buzz: OR = 7.75, 95% confidence interval [CI] (1.46 – 41.19); a little drunk: OR = 28.70, 95% CI (1.85 – 446.5)], controlling for sex, age, race, and alcohol use. Tailgate drinking was not a significant predictor (p = 0.070) of consequences experienced at follow-up. Limitations of this study include its small sample and single BrAC measure, as drinking may have increased as the start of the game approached.
Take away: This field study documented that drinking intentions at a college tailgate significantly predicted alcohol-related consequences and alcohol consumption following the event. At the tailgate, 81% of participants reported intending to not drink enough to get buzzed or only drinking enough to feel a slight buzz.