Drinking before sporting events in Australia: An ecological momentary assessment study

Area of Science:

• Sports Science
• Public Health
• Sociology

Background:

• Alcohol consumption before sporting events is a public health concern.
• Understanding factors influencing pre-game drinking is crucial for harm reduction strategies.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate individual and event-level factors associated with pre-game alcohol consumption among Australian Football League (AFL) spectators.
• To identify correlates of drinking prevalence and quantity before AFL games.

Main Methods:

• A total of 417 adult spectators completed questionnaires before, during, and after AFL matches.
• Cluster-adjusted regression analyses examined individual (age, gender, drinking habits) and event-level factors (game time, viewing location, social company).

Main Results:

• 41.4% of participants drank before games, averaging 2.3 drinks.
• Spectators aged 30+ were more likely to drink pre-game and consumed more.
• Night games and on-premise viewing were associated with higher pre-game consumption.
• Watching games with family correlated with lower pre-game alcohol intake.

Conclusions:

• Individual factors like age and event-level factors such as game timing and viewing location significantly influence pre-game drinking.
• Targeting contextual factors, like game schedules, may help reduce risky alcohol consumption at sporting events.