title: The relationship between group size, intoxication and continuing to drink after bar attendance.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The present study was undertaken to explore multilevel determinants of planning to continue to drink alcohol after leaving public drinking events. We assessed whether individual-level factors, group-related factors, or event-level bar characteristics were associated with post-bar drinking.
  
  
  METHODS
  We recruited a total of 642 participants from 30 participating bars in urban Southern California. Groups who arrived to patron a bar were interviewed upon their entrance and exit. Given data nesting, we employed a multilevel modeling approach to data analysis.
  
  
  RESULTS
  More than one-third (40%) of our sample reported the intention to continue drinking as they exited the bar. Results of our multilevel model indicated eight individual-level variables significantly associated with intending to continue to drink. Time of night moderated the relationship between BrAC change and intentions to continue to drink. Although none of the group factors were significant in our model, a significant cross-level interaction between BrAC change and number of group members indicated the effect of intoxication on planning to continue to drink increases as group members increase. At the bar level, the presence of temporary bars and server offers of non-alcoholic drinks significantly decreased intentions to continue to drink.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Given the large percentage of participants who reported the intention to continue drinking after exiting a bar, this study draws attention to the fact that field studies of drinking behavior may assess drinking mid-event rather than at the end of a drinking event.
authors.affiliation: Center on Alcohol and Drug Studies, School of Social Work, San Diego State University, 5500 Campanile Dr., San Diego, CA 92181, United States.
authors.forename: Mark B
authors.initials: MB
authors.lastname: Reed
authors.forename: John D
authors.initials: JD
authors.lastname: Clapp
authors.forename: Brandi
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Martell
authors.forename: Alexandra
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Hidalgo-Sotelo
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000428:Alcohol Drinking / Q000523:psychology*; D000435:Alcoholic Intoxication / Q000523:psychology*; D001944:Breath Tests; D005260:Female; D006127:Group Structure; D006801:Humans; D033182:Intention; D008297:Male; D008960:Models, Psychological; D012919:Social Behavior
keywords: Blood alcohol concentration; Breath alcohol; Multilevel modeling