title: Environmental characteristics associated with alcohol intoxication among patrons in Brazilian nightclubs.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Few studies have investigated the association between environmental factors and patrons' binge drinking in nightclubs, and such studies are rare in developing countries.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To identify environmental factors associated with binge drinking among patrons in nightclubs in São Paulo, Brazil, using a mixed-methods design.
  
  
  METHODS
  The study used a two-stage cluster sampling survey design. Two levels of data were collected: observational data and portal survey data. Individual-level data were collected by a portal survey of 2422 subjects at the entrance and 1822 subjects at the exit of 31 nightclubs. Weighted multilevel analysis was used to investigate the association between patrons' binge drinking (as measured by breath alcohol concentration ≥0.38 mg L(-1) ) at nightclub exit, with environmental-level variables collected through observation and controlled for individual-level data.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Pre-drinking was the variable most strongly associated with binge drinking BrAC levels when exiting the venue [adjusted odds ratio (aOR) = 5.98, 95% confidence interval (CI) [4.37, 8.17], P < 0.001). The environmental variables significantly associated with binge drinking were 'all you can drink' service (aOR = 2.44, 95% CI [1.03, 0.79]; P = 0.043), two or more dance floors (aOR = 1.92, 95% CI [1.16, 3.18]; P = 0.011), and higher sound levels (aOR = 1.04 per each decibel increased, 95% CI [1.01, 1.08]; P = 0.048). Data triangulation showed an association between lower alcohol intoxication and ketamine use in three LGBT nightclubs.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Pre-drinking showed that individual-level characteristics could be more important in binge drinking than the venues' environmental characteristics. Previous studies failed to include pre-drinking in environmental analysis.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Environmental control interventions, isolated from individual-level approaches, may have limited efficacy in the prevention of alcohol abuse in nightclubs.
authors: Department of Preventive Medicine, Universidade Federal de São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil.
authors: Claudia
authors: C
authors: Carlini
authors: Solange
authors: S
authors: Andreoni
authors: Silvia S
authors: SS
authors: Martins
authors: Miguel
authors: M
authors: Benjamin
authors: Adriana
authors: A
authors: Sanudo
authors: Zila M
authors: ZM
authors: Sanchez
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000435:Alcoholic Intoxication / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000453:epidemiology*; D063425:Binge Drinking / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000453:epidemiology*; D001938:Brazil / Q000453:epidemiology; D016000:Cluster Analysis; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies / Q000379:methods; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012147:Restaurants; D012307:Risk Factors; D012931:Social Environment; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: Brazil; alcohol intoxication; binge drinking; drinking environments; nightclubs