Binge drinking is defined as consuming 4+ drinks for women and 5+ drinks for men during a single occasion. Young adults have high rates of binge drinking which can lead to a variety of adverse effects. Therefore, understanding motivations for alcohol consumption and binge drinking behaviors has been in a priority in the development of prevention efforts. Previous research has shown that one’s desire to get drunk is associated with a greater likelihood of binge drinking. Counteracting desires to drink are cognitive processes that exert self-control to limit alcohol consumption. The goal theory may be one way to assist in these self-regulation processes by encouraging timely and specific goals, supporting goal striving, and assessing goal progress to reduce alcohol consumption. This study examines the impact of drinking limit goal commitment and goal confidence on the desire to get drunk and binge drinking behaviors among young adults.  

The study’s sample consisted of 297 young adults age 18-25 years old with a history of hazardous drinking. Participants completed a baseline survey and were randomized to GOAL and COMBO groups. Both groups received goal-related assessments and feedback text-message interventions. Following a two-week run-in, for twelve weeks participants were asked via text message to report whether they planned to drink on two days per week when the participant typically drank alcohol (determined in the baseline survey). If the respondent indicated there was a drinking event they were asked about their desire to get drunk, willingness to commit to drinking limit goal, and how confident they were in meeting this goal. The next day participants were asked about their alcohol consumption on the previous day. Data was analyzed using a multilevel structural equation method.  

Results of the data analysis showed at the within-person level, goal commitment and goal confidence were negatively correlated with desire to get drunk and binge drinking. A significant indirect effect of desire to get drunk on binge drinking through goal commitment and goal confidence was also observed. At the between-person level, variance in desire to get drunk was significantly associated with drinking limit goal commitment and variance in binge drinking. No significant effects of the COMBO vs. GOAL intervention were identified.  

Takeaway: Among young adults, willingness to commit to drinking goal limits and goal confidence may reduce likelihood of binge drinking, while increased desire to get drunk may result in less utilization of self-regulation strategies to limit alcohol consumption.  

Suffoletto, B., Chung, T.. Goal commitment and goal confidence mediate the path between desire to get drunk and binge drinking among young adults receiving text message goal-related feedback [published online ahead of print, 2023 Mar 28]. Alcoholism, Clinical and Experimental Research. 2023;10.1111/acer.15065. doi:10.1111/acer.15065