Environmental influences on alcohol consumption practices of alcoholic beverage servers.
Public drinking establishments have long been associated with heavy drinking among both their patrons and servers. Whether these environments represent locations where heavy drinking is learned (learning hypothesis) or simply places where already-heavy drinkers gather in a supportive environment (selection hypothesis) remains an important question. A sample of licensed alcoholic beverage servers in the state of Indiana, USA, was surveyed to better understand the drinking behaviors of servers within the alcohol service industry. Responses (N = 938) to a mailed questionnaire were analyzed to assess the relative influence of environmental and demographic factors on the drinking behavior of servers. Stepwise regression revealed "drinking on the job" as the most influential environmental factor on heavy drinking behaviors, followed by age and gender as influential demographic factors. Support was found for the selection hypothesis, but not for the learning hypothesis. Policy implications are discussed. factors on the drinking behavior of servers. Stepwise regression revealed "drinking on the job" as the most influential environmental factor on heavy drinking behaviors, followed by age and gender as influential demographic factors. Support was found for the selection hypothesis, but not for the learning hypothesis. Policy implications are discussed.
Nusbaumer
Michael R
MR
Department of Sociology and Anthropology, 2101 Coliseum Boulevard, Indiana University-Purdue University, Fort Wayne, IN 46805, USA. nusbaume@ipfw.edu
Reiling
Denise M
DM
D000428:Alcohol Drinking / Q000523:psychology*; D000434:Alcoholic Beverages; D000435:Alcoholic Intoxication / Q000523:psychology; D006801:Humans; D007196:Indiana; D009784:Occupational Diseases / Q000523:psychology*; D012044:Regression Analysis; D012147:Restaurants; D012931:Social Environment; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires