Adolescents, bush parties and drinking-driving

We describe the prevalence of bush party (an outdoor gathering of youth) attendance and examine predictors of attendance and of driving after drinking at bush parties.

The 1995 Ontario Student Drug Use Survey (OSDUS) data on students (n = 1,853) in schools across the province in grades 7, 9, 11 and 13 are employed to estimate prevalence of bush party attendance within the previous 12 months. The 1994 Graduated Licensing Study (GLS), a multi-community survey of drivers (n = 1,157, 53.6% male) in grades 11 and 12 in Ontario, data are employed to study predictors of attendance and of drinking-driving.

Based on the OSDUS, the prevalence of bush party attendance is 37.6%. Based on the GLS, 38.4% attended bush parties, and among attenders 71.5% drank at bush parties, 63.5% observed drinking-driving, 16.1% rode with a drinking-driver and 16.6% drove after drinking at bush parties. Logistic regression reveals that attendance at bush parties is positively associated with number of other places alcohol was consumed, tobacco use, number of alcohol-related problems, number of kilometers ever driven, sensation seeking and northern residents. Among attenders who drank at bush parties, males were three and a half times more likely to drive after drinking at a bush party, and the probability of drinking and driving increased with the number of other drugs used.

Despite important differences in the design and purpose of the two surveys, both indicate that bush party attendance is prevalent among adolescents. Driving after drinking at these events is common and warrants community action.