Intoxication by drinking location: a web-based diary study in a New Zealand university community

Drinking to intoxication is a modifiable risk factor for various health, social, and legal problems. The objective was to estimate the relative risk of intoxication by type of drinking location. Participants were 1614 university students (mean age 19.0 years) in residential halls who completed a web survey (67% response). Respondents reported their drinking for each day of the preceding week, in residential halls, pubs/bars/nightclubs, student flats/houses, and 'other' locations. An estimated blood alcohol concentration (EBAC) was computed and intoxication was defined as EBAC>0.08%. Pubs/bars/nightclubs accounted for 51% of all alcohol consumed, followed by residential halls (34%), student flats/houses (9%), and other locations (6%). Episodes resulting in intoxication comprised 61% of all drinking episodes in pubs/bars/nightclubs, 55% in student flats/houses, 53% in residential halls, and 37% in other locations. Multi-level analyses revealed positive associations between the first three location types (relative to 'other') and intoxication among women. Drinking in pubs/bars/nightclubs was associated with intoxication among men. Other significant predictors included hazardous drinking in the respondent's residential hall, pre-university drinking, and first-year status. Student intoxication is commonplace in licensed premises and residential halls. These environments are amenable to interventions to reduce the incidence of intoxication.