The effects of temperance legislation on drinking behaviours in night-time entertainment districts depends on whether people go out to drink or drink to go out

Abstract

Introduction and Aims Restrictive practices on alcohol sales in NEDs have been introduced to reduce violence and binge‐drinking in youth. However, no study has evaluated general levels of intoxication (as measured by breath approximated blood alcohol concentration; BrAC), crowd numbers and fear of violence as people enter and exit NEDs, both before and after the introduction of legislation restricting alcohol sales. Further, no study has linked people’s NED entry state to their exit state. We aimed to address this gap in the literature

Design and Methods We conducted three studies (n=3993) looking at actual NED entry and exit inebriation, arrest rates and crowd numbers both before and after the legislative changes; and a further study (n=360) linking people’s NED entry inebriation level to their exit level, taking into account demographics and personality variables. We used random breath‐testing on Thursday, Friday and Saturday nights on entry and exit to NEDs in Brisbane, the Gold Coast and North Queensland.

Results After the introduction of the legislation patrons entered the NEDs systematically later and were substantially more inebriated. Exit BrAC showed some evidence of also increasing. Crime statistics and patrons’ self‐reported experiences of violence did not change, and crowd numbers increased in larger NEDs and decreased in smaller NEDs. Between 30% and 38% of patron’s exit BrAC was uniquely related to their entry BrAC.

Discussions and Conclusions Preloading currently has the biggest impact on general level of inebriation in NEDs and is a cultural phenomenon that is currently being missed in moderating people’s drinking.

Implications for Practice or Policy Interventions should now focus on having people come in earlier, less drunk and be taught to have a more realistic appraisal of how much they drink and what effects alcohol has on their body and their cognitive capacity.