You’re hanging out with some acquaintances before heading out for a night. Everyone’s drink while listening to tunes and it’s great. A rideshare vehicle pulls out of the driveway and everyone finishes. Their drink before getting into the car, heading to a concert where drinking is to be consumed.
This is the usual before-drinking scene drinking alcohol in one location usually at a home of someone’s prior. Drinking somewhere in another location, like the club, pub or even an event. You may be familiar with the concept of pre-drinking (colloquially called preloading) and not think too as much about it.
In actuality, it’s an complex behavior which has attracted particular attention to health psychologists. And public health strategists over the last 15 years. As popular as it may be, pre-drinking isn’t completely safe.
Why Do People Pre Drink?
The huge effort of public health to curb excessive drinking in licensed establishments. Led to certain drinkers may have shifted away from their traditional pub. To club model to opt for an home to pub to club model.
It’s easy to see the attraction when you consider that, compared to a bustling location. A home will likely be quieter and cramped, and likely doesn’t have an additional cost for cover. In Australia one of the main reasons people give for drinking. Before they go out is the low price of alcohol. Purchased in advance when compared to prices at an approved venue.
Indeed, behavioral economists have found that we are quite sensitive when it comes to finding the most efficient way to consume alcohol. Then add our complicated tax system as well as public health initiatives like minimum unit pricing into the mix It’s not a surprise that we’re looking for ways to boost our spirits at a reasonable cost.
More Than Just Money?
Outside of Australia research suggests that the cost of alcohol is not as big an influencer for people who drink before. Other motivational theories have been discovered mostly from psychological studies across North America and Europe.
This includes these include the enhancement aspect of pre-drinking in itself (as the opening scene shows) and limiting the consumption of alcohol in situ (such as drinking only the brand you prefer) or anticipating drinking less in the future (think the long lines for footy at the bar).
The main goal of drinking before going out to get sufficiently intoxicated before going out. One motive, often discussed by me described as intimate pursuit. This why the pre-drinks utilized to establish trust with someone you could interested in romantically.
Although these ideas usually accepted by Australian drinking pre-teens, cost still a significant factor in our decision to drink particularly among younger Australians.
In our study we asked participants about the lower cost of drinking before in addition to these other reasons. This was the biggest predictor of the pre-drink, and also predicted the participants experiencing alcohol-related harm during the previous twelve months.
It’s surprising to hear that some people say that drinking prior to drinking doesn’t help save the money. From a psychological point of view it could be that alcohol can affect your inhibitory control. The purpose of drinking pre-drinks is to keep the total alcohol consumption to a minimum The more we drink the harder it gets to not buy another drink.
The Particular Danger Of Pre Drink
Research consistently indicates that drinking before drinking linked to drinking excessively and harms associated with alcohol. Another reason is the fact that we drink more alcohol when drinking prior to drinking, as opposed to sipping drinking a pint in the bar. Pre-drinkers can experience more intoxication levels, faster.
It can depend on a variety of variables such as the people we’re pre-drinking with, or the extent to which people have been playing alcohol games. In addition that people are quite inept at estimation of how much they’ve been drinking.
Unfortunately it is true that it is a sad fact that the sweet spot of a buzz may quickly change to increased levels of alcohol-related intoxication and a higher danger of harm from alcohol.
Ensure Risks Of Pre Drinking Reduced?
Pre-drinking is a good idea for social and practical functions for socializing with your friends in a relaxed setting, and also warming up before an evening out. So, it’s likely that we’ll never completely eliminate pre-drinking However, we can attempt to make it safer.
The main issue with pre-drinking is that individuals may drink from whatever vessel is available like the mug, and be unable to track their drinking habits. licensed establishments offer alcohol in standardized containers like pints and schooners. Some also use measured drinks. Therefore, having schooners and Jiggers in your drink before you go could be a good idea to begin.
Health psychologists are often advocates of protective behavioral strategies strategies that can help us to keep alcohol consumption under control. For instance, we could determine a drinking limit or set a timer between drinks to reduce the amount we consume. The research is in progress to determine how these strategies could be more tailored to the pre-drinking environment.
In the end, if you’re planning a drink-in-preparation session prior to an event is a good idea. To ensure there’s plenty of alcohol-free or low-alcohol alternatives, and food, like you would at any event. Most important that that pre-drinkers can do is to keep their eyes on one another to ensure everyone gets to the party and has a great time and returns home safely.