title: Pre-Drinking Behavior of Young Heavy Drinkers.
abstract: Pre-drinking has been linked to subsequent heavy drinking and the engagement in multiple risky behaviors.
  
  
  
  The present study examined a group of adolescents who recently had a "big night out" to determine whether there were differences in their pre-drinking behavior based on age, gender, geographic location, and social setting.
  
  
  
  Participants (n = 351, aged 16-19) representing the heaviest 20-25% of drinkers in their age group were recruited using nonrandom sampling from metropolitan (Melbourne, Sydney, Perth) or regional (Bunbury) locations across Australia and administered a survey by a trained interviewer.
  
  
  
  Almost half the sample pre-drank (n = 149), most commonly at a friend's house. Those aged 18-19 were more likely to pre-drink, and did so at higher quantities compared to their younger counterparts. Males and females reported similar pre-drinking duration, quantity and amount spent on alcohol. Compared to those in cities, regional participants consumed greater quantities over longer periods of time. Two-thirds of participants consumed alcohol in excess of national guidelines during their pre-drinking session. These participants were more likely to nominate price as a motivation to pre-drink and were less likely to report that someone else provided them alcohol.
  
  
  
  This study sheds light on the pre-drinking habits of a population of young risky drinkers, and highlights the need for policy makers to address this form of drinking to reduce alcohol-related harm among young people.
authors.affiliation: a Eastern Health Clinical School , Monash University , Box Hill , Australia.|b Turning Point , Eastern Health , Fitzroy , Australia.
authors.forename: Rowan P
authors.initials: RP
authors.lastname: Ogeil
authors.affiliation: a Eastern Health Clinical School , Monash University , Box Hill , Australia.|b Turning Point , Eastern Health , Fitzroy , Australia.
authors.forename: Belinda
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Lloyd
authors.affiliation: c National Drug Research Institute , Curtin University , Perth , Australia.
authors.forename: Tina
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Lam
authors.affiliation: c National Drug Research Institute , Curtin University , Perth , Australia.
authors.forename: Simon
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Lenton
authors.affiliation: d National Drug and Alcohol Research Centre , University of New South Wales , Sydney , Australia.
authors.forename: Lucinda
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Burns
authors.affiliation: d National Drug and Alcohol Research Centre , University of New South Wales , Sydney , Australia.
authors.forename: Alexandra
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Aiken
authors.affiliation: c National Drug Research Institute , Curtin University , Perth , Australia.
authors.forename: William
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Gilmore
authors.affiliation: c National Drug Research Institute , Curtin University , Perth , Australia.
authors.forename: Tanya
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Chikritzhs
authors.affiliation: d National Drug and Alcohol Research Centre , University of New South Wales , Sydney , Australia.
authors.forename: Richard
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Mattick
authors.affiliation: c National Drug Research Institute , Curtin University , Perth , Australia.
authors.forename: Steve
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Allsop
authors.affiliation: a Eastern Health Clinical School , Monash University , Box Hill , Australia.|b Turning Point , Eastern Health , Fitzroy , Australia.
authors.forename: Dan I
authors.initials: DI
authors.lastname: Lubman
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000428:Alcohol Drinking; D000435:Alcoholic Intoxication; D001315:Australia; D003132:Commerce; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D012309:Risk-Taking; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: Alcohol; pre-drinking; risky drinking; youth