title: Predictors of at-risk intoxication in a university field setting: social anxiety, demographics, and intentions.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The determinants of alcohol consumption among university students were investigated in a downtown field setting with blood alcohol content (BAC) as the dependent variable.
  
  
  METHODS
  In total, 521 participants completed a brief survey and had their BAC assessed during April 2013.
  
  
  METHODS
  Between 10:00 pm and 2:00 am, teams of researchers recruited passersby at 3 heavy-drinking locations near a university campus. Before the BAC assessment, participants completed a questionnaire regarding their drinking intentions, drinking group, and social anxiety.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The average BAC of drinking students was 0.107 g/dL, which was 0.033 g/dL higher than their intended BAC. Males and members of a Greek-life organization consumed significantly more alcohol than their demographic counterparts. A significant positive curvilinear relationship was observed between social anxiety and BAC.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  University students achieve high levels of intoxication, often exceeding their intended BAC. Social anxiety may be an informative predictor of alcohol consumption in this setting.
authors.affiliation: a Virginia Tech Transportation Institute, Virginia Tech , Blacksburg . Virginia.
authors.forename: Ryan C
authors.initials: RC
authors.lastname: Smith
authors.forename: Molly A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Bowdring
authors.forename: E Scott
authors.initials: ES
authors.lastname: Geller
mesh_terms: D000437:Alcoholism / Q000523:psychology*; D001007:Anxiety / Q000150:complications* / Q000523:psychology*; D000067401:Blood Alcohol Content; D003710:Demography / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D012919:Social Behavior; D013334:Students / Q000523:psychology* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014495:Universities / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D000067401:Blood Alcohol Content
keywords: alcohol; blood alcohol content; drinking; field methodologies; intended intoxication; social anxiety