title: Young adults' knowledge of the strength of different alcoholic beverages.
abstract: Providing information about the strength of different alcoholic beverages is a common component of alcohol abuse prevention programs. However, little is known about drinkers' knowledge of the strength of different alcoholic beverages. In the present study, 113 young adult drinkers responded to a questionnaire concerning the alcohol content of different types of malt beverages (beers, malt liquors), wines, fortified wines (port, sherry), and distilled spirits. The results indicated rates of correct responses well below 50 percent for each type of alcoholic beverage, with a substantial proportion of subjects either overestimating or underestimating alcohol content. Not a single subject reported correct alcohol content values for all four beverage types. There was a trend towards less accurate estimates of the alcohol content of strength were less accurate than those of men. The results are discussed in terms of prevention of alcohol abuse.
authors.affiliation: Center for Alcohol and Addiction Studies, Brown University, Roger Williams General Hospital, Providence, Rhode Island.
authors.forename: C S
authors.initials: CS
authors.lastname: Martin
authors.forename: M R
authors.initials: MR
authors.lastname: Liepman
authors.forename: T D
authors.initials: TD
authors.lastname: Nirenberg
authors.forename: C M
authors.initials: CM
authors.lastname: Young
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000428:Alcohol Drinking; D000434:Alcoholic Beverages / Q000032:analysis; D000437:Alcoholism / Q000517:prevention & control; D000431:Ethanol / Q000032:analysis; D005260:Female; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D012737:Sex Factors; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires
chemical_list: D000431:Ethanol