Alcohol education in licensed premises using brief intervention strategies.
OBJECTIVE
The aim of this feasibility study is to present a description of a new approach based on alcohol brief intervention strategies to intervene with at-risk drinkers in licensed premises.


METHODS
The data presented are from a convenience sample of tavern patrons.


METHODS
The intervention called Operation Drinksafe was conducted on 75 occasions in 67 licensed premises in an Australian rural area.


METHODS
There were 2761 voluntary participants who were provided with a personal risk assessment of their alcohol use.


METHODS
The main measurements were the Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test (AUDIT) combined with a blood alcohol concentration (BAC) reading.


RESULTS
The median AUDIT score was 11.0, with 53% scoring in the hazardous range and 25% in the harmful range. For binge drinking, almost two-thirds (62%) of males drank six or more drinks once a week or more compared to 29% of females. Median BAC was 0.03 mg/100 ml with 11% of males above 0.10. Regression analysis revealed that significant predictors of alcohol-related injury were being aged less than 30 years, forgetting the previous night, having had another person express concern about your drinking, and binge drinking weekly or more.


CONCLUSIONS
The program had high acceptance among licensees and their patrons. Patrons who are ready to change their at-risk drinking behaviour may benefit from this type of minimal intervention when presented in an interesting way in their drinking environments.
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000437:Alcoholism / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D001315:Australia / Q000453:epidemiology; D005260:Female; D006266:Health Education; D006801:Humans; D008004:Licensure; D008297:Male; D008389:Marketing of Health Services; D008875:Middle Aged; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D012044:Regression Analysis; D018570:Risk Assessment; D017678:Sex Distribution; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires