Let's party tonight: drinking patterns and breath alcohol values at high school parties

This study sought to determine whether the number of alcohol-containing beverages consumed by adolescents attending a "typical" high school weekend party was planned or spontaneous. A second objective was to understand the role of the designated driver and whether he or she honored a pledge of sobriety.

A printed, anonymous survey with signed informed consent was distributed to 52 high school students from three different suburban high schools during three weekend high school parties. In addition, subjects underwent breath alcohol testing using the Intoximeter breath alcohol instrument. Salivary alcohol measurements were also obtained using Alco-Screen. Levels were measured in volunteers on entry and exit from the party.

Fifty-two students volunteered to participate in the survey. Eleven participants volunteered to be designated drivers, nine of whom did not drink alcohol at this party. By the end of each party, the 26 boys had consumed a mean of 10 drinks, and the 16 girls had consumed 4.1 drinks, almost exactly what they had predicted at the time of arrival. By departure time, 22 (54%) of the drinkers had a breath alcohol value of .10 g/dL or greater, while only three (7%), had alcohol values of .02 g/dL or less. Blackouts were common and had been experienced by 73% of all the students surveyed. Twenty-seven percent of those surveyed had been involved in some form of physical violence while drinking. Eleven percent of the female participants reported being sexually assaulted while they or their attacker were drunk. Most of the 42 drinkers believed that it was acceptable for designated drivers to drink at least two beers. Two intoxicated designated drivers were driven home by sober friends.

High school students in this study knew before attending a party the quantity of beer they would consume. Survey participants believed that it is acceptable practice for designated drivers to drink alcohol at parties; 13% of those who intended to drive after these parties were intoxicated.