RESUMEN
OBJECTIVE: To examine how alcohol availability, overserving, and enforcement in recreational and social settings are related to alcohol misuse and alcohol-impaired driving among young adults in Victoria, Australia and Washington State, United States. METHOD: Longitudinal data came from 1,430 participants in Victoria (n = 757; 52% female) and Washington (n = 673; 53% female), surveyed in 2014 (age 25) and 2018 (age 29) from the International Youth Development Study, a population-based, cross-national study to examine factors influencing substance use. Path modeling tested associations between age 25 perceptions of the alcohol environment, age 25 social alcohol consumption, and age 31 alcohol-related harms. Multiple-group modeling examined differences in parameter estimates across both states. RESULTS: Age 25 perceptions of the alcohol environment (alcohol availability, overservice in evening social venues, legal enforcement) and alcohol consumption in evening social settings were similar between the two states. Higher alcohol availability and perceived tendency of evening social venues to overserve were associated with higher alcohol consumption in these contexts. In turn, higher alcohol consumption in these settings was associated with more problematic alcohol use and an increased likelihood of alcohol-impaired driving 4 years later. Perceived likelihood of legal enforcement in evening social settings was not related to alcohol consumption in these contexts. CONCLUSIONS: The recreational and social settings commonly frequented by young adults can influence drinking behaviors and alcohol-related harms. Reducing alcohol availability and over-servicing in settings where young adults often congregate and socialize could reduce problematic alcohol use and alcohol-impaired driving.
RESUMEN
Prior studies suggest that adult supervised drinking in adolescence predicts greater adolescent alcohol misuse. Long-term follow up data examining how adult supervised drinking during adolescence relates to alcohol misuse in adulthood are lacking. Longitudinal data from the International Youth Development Study tested associations between adult supervised drinking during adolescence (ages 13-16; 2002-2004) and adult alcohol misuse (ages 25-31; 2014, 2018, 2020). Cross-nationally matched samples were compared in Washington State, USA (n = 961) and Victoria, Australia (n = 1,957; total N = 2,918, 55 % female, 83 % White), where adult-supervised adolescent alcohol use was more common. Multilevel analyses adjusted for state, sex, adolescent drinking, parent education, family management, family history of substance use problems, and parent alcohol-related norms. Adult supervised drinking in adolescence (at dinner or parties, on holidays) predicted more adult alcohol misuse (mean Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test score; b[SE] 0.07[0.03]; p = 0.004) and higher rates of alcohol-impaired driving (Odds Ratio [OR] 1.501, p = 0.034) and riding with an alcohol-impaired driver (OR 1.669, p = 0.005), but not the use of strategies to moderate alcohol intake (e.g., counting drinks). Better family management (monitoring, clear rules) in adolescence predicted less adult alcohol misuse. Associations were similar in the two states. Reducing the frequency of adult supervised drinking and improving family management practices in adolescence may help to decrease alcohol misuse well into adulthood. Findings support the widespread implementation of substance use prevention and family management training programs.