How do sexual assault characteristics vary as a function of perpetrators' level of intoxication?

Although alcohol's effects are strongly related to the quantity consumed, most studies that have examined the effects of alcohol on sexual assault perpetrators' behavior have simply assessed if alcohol was consumed, not the amount of alcohol consumed. This study addressed this gap in the literature with a sample of 107 Caucasian and African American men who reported perpetrating some type of sexual assault since the age of 14. The characteristics of the sexual assaults described by men who drank heavily during the incident significantly differed from those described by light drinkers and nondrinkers on a variety of measures including their use of physical force and perceptions of the seriousness of the incident. In contrast, there were few significant differences between light drinkers and nondrinkers. This pattern of results suggests that the amount of alcohol consumed is an important factor in the characteristics and consequences of sexual assault incidents. These findings highlight the importance of sexual assault prevention programs that target men's heavy drinking.