Higher Levels Of Alcohol Consumption Research Articles

Racial discrimination and alcohol problems among African American young adults: Examining the moderating effects of racial socialization by parents and friends.

Racial discrimination is a stressor that may put African Americans at risk for alcohol use and related problems. We examined whether experiences of blatant (racist events) and subtle (racial microaggressions) forms of racial discrimination were associated with alcohol consumption and alcohol problems among African American young adults, and whether childhood/adolescence racial socialization by parents and friends moderated these associations. The sample included 383 African American young adults (Mage = 20.65, SD = 2.28; 81% female) who completed an electronic survey in Fall, 2017. Hierarchical linear regression analyses were conducted in Mplus. Experiences of racist events and racial microaggressions were associated with higher levels of alcohol consumption and more alcohol problems. Racial socialization by friends, but not parents, moderated these associations. Specifically, cultural socialization by friends buffered the effect of racist events on alcohol consumption and alcohol problems, whereas promotion of mistrust by friends exacerbated the effect of racial microaggressions on alcohol problems. Both blatant and subtle forms of racial discrimination were associated with higher risk for alcohol use or problems among African American young adults. Racial socialization by friends while growing up may play an important role in alcohol use outcomes during young adulthood. Findings highlight the importance of considering different forms of racial discrimination and emphasize the unique roles of racial socialization across different social contexts (i.e., parent and peers or friends) in relation to psychosocial outcomes among African American individuals. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2020 APA, all rights reserved).

Adolescent Ethanol Exposure: Anxiety-Like Behavioral Alterations, Ethanol Intake, and Sensitivity.

Adolescence is a developmental period associated with rapid age-specific physiological, neural, and hormonal changes. Behaviorally, human adolescents are characterized by age-typical increases in novelty-seeking and risk-taking, including the frequent initiation of alcohol and drug use. Alcohol use typically begins during early adolescence, and older adolescents often report high levels of alcohol consumption, commonly referred to as high-intensity drinking. Early-onset and heavy drinking during adolescence are associated with an increased risk of developing alcohol use disorders later in life. Yet, long-term behavioral consequences of adolescent alcohol use that might contribute to excessive drinking in adulthood are still not well understood. Recent animal research, however, using different exposure regimens and routes of ethanol administration, has made substantial progress in identifying the consequences of adolescent ethanol exposure that last into adulthood. Alterations associated with adolescent ethanol exposure include increases in anxiety-like behavior, impulsivity, risk-taking, and ethanol intake, although the observed alterations differ as a function of exposure regimens and routes of ethanol administration. Rodent studies have also shown that adolescent ethanol exposure produces alterations in sensitivity to ethanol, with these alterations reminiscent of adolescent-typical ethanol responsiveness. The goal of this mini-review article is to summarize the current state of animal research, focusing on the long-term consequences related to adolescent ethanol exposure, with a special emphasis on the behavioral alterations and changes to ethanol sensitivity that can foster high levels of drinking in adulthood.

Alcohol control policies and mortality trends in Belarus.

Belarus is among the countries that have very high alcohol consumption levels, and that suffer from a huge burden of excessive drinking. This paper aims to explore the peculiarities of the alcohol control policies implemented in Belarus, and to link these policies to the trends in alcohol consumption and mortality. Our narrative review of alcohol policies and anti-alcohol measures is based on the laws, directives and other official documents issued by Belarusian authorities since the early 1990s. The data on alcohol consumption and other relevant variables originate from official statistical books. Our analysis of mortality trends is based upon official statistical tables by causes of death. Despite the large number of government policy initiatives that authorities claimed were controlling the problem, alcohol consumption in Belarus grew rapidly up to 2010, when it reached the highest level in the world. This negative trend can be largely attributed to inconsistent alcohol control policies. In particular, the implementation of excise taxes encouraged the manufacturing of inexpensive fortified fruit wines. Additionally, measures designed to raise the price of alcohol were inadequate, resulting in strong alcoholic drinks (e.g. vodka) becoming more affordable. However, the third anti-alcohol campaign, which was launched in 2011, led to declines in both alcohol consumption and alcohol-related mortality. Belarus has acquired the experience and the legislative foundation needed to implement effective alcohol control polices. To further reduce alcohol-related harm in Belarus, a steady and consistent long-term policy perspective is required.

FACTORS AFFECTING THE LIFE EXPECTANCY AT BIRTH OF THE RURAL POPULATION IN RUSSIA

The article addresses the issues of low life expectancy of the rural population in Russia. The purpose of the study is modeling the factors affecting the life expectancy at birth of rural population in the Russian Federation. A regression equation of the factors affecting the life expectancy at birth of the rural population was tested. The database was created for 78 regions of Russia on the basis of statistical indicators presented by the Federal State Statistics Service of Russian Federation. The results show that the high rate of unemployment, poverty, and social inequality, as well as, high levels of alcohol consumption, and criminaliza-tion of rural areas, have significant negative impact on life expectancy of rural population. We find that the level of vocational education, the quality of housing and quality and availability of medical care have significant positive impact on life expectancy of the rural population. This study identified statistically significant economic, social and behavioral factors affecting the life expectancy of the rural population in Rus-sia. Selected statistically significant factors explain 83% of differences in life ex-pectancy at birth of rural population in Russia. The value of the F-test, which char-acterizes the reliability of the regression equation, is greater than the tabulated value for a given number of degrees of freedom for the model, and the probability of obtaining this value does not exceed the permissible level of significance in 5%. Our findings have significant policy implications for the rural development in Rus-sia and can be applicable to other countries. The results of this study can help the policy makers to implement suitable policy measures to extend the life expectancy in rural Russia.

Influence of tobacco, alcohol consumption, eating habits and physical activity in nursing students.

Objective:to determine the consumption of alcohol, tobacco, eating habits, and physical activity among nursing students and to detect whether being a nursing student is a protective factor against these habits. Method:a questionnaire was used to collect information on age, academic year, sex, alcohol and tobacco consumption, physical activity, and healthy eating. An information sheet and informed consent form were given. The sample was composed of 264 students aged between 18-30 years from four academic years. Results:of the total sample, 15.5% smoked, 83.7% consumed alcoholic beverages and 97.2% consumed over the weekend. The total of 68.6% did not practice exercises and 70.5% needed changes in their diet. Conclusion:nursing students have high levels of alcohol consumption and low levels of smoking compared with other studies. The higher the academic year, the lower the age of onset of tobacco consumption. The number of men who exercised was higher, which is considered a protective factor against alcohol and tobacco consumption and is related to a healthy diet. Smoking has a negative influence on diet. The students needed to change their diet. Finally, being a nursing student is not considered a protective factor against alcohol and tobacco consumption, nor having good eating habits and exercising.

Risk Factors for Seborrhoeic Dermatitis Flares: Case-control and Case-crossover Study.

Patients with flares of seborrhoeic dermatitis were compared with control outpatients seen during the same time-period in a case-control study, and with themselves while in remission in a case-crossover study. All patients consulted the same office-based dermatologist. During the study period, 189 cases and 189 controls were included in the case-control study, and 81 cases in the case-crossover study. Multivariate analysis was performed. Case-control study results were the following: past history of tobacco consumption (odds ratio (OR) 2.2 (95% confidence interval (CI) 1.1–4.6)), conflict as a dispute during the past month (OR 10.6 (95% CI 1.0–114.3)), alcohol consumption on a regular basis (OR 10.2 (95% CI 2.0–52.6)), and higher level of stress during the past month (OR 8.2 (95% CI 3.4–19.9)). Case-crossover study results were the following: higher level of stress during the past month (OR 4.5 (1.7–12.2)), association borderline significant for higher level of alcohol consumption (OR 5.4 (0.8–34.9)). These risk factors for flares of seborrhoeic dermatitis should be taken into account carefully in the daily management of seborrhoeic dermatitis.

GENDER ALCOHOL USE DISPARITIES AND (POSSIBLE) CONSEQUENCES ON MEN AND WOMEN HEALTH STATUS

In this study we approached gender differences of alcohol consumption and, also, the way these differences are reflected in women and men harmful effects of drinking. We focused on Romanian evidences but we reported our results to European realities. The method was secondary data analysis, applied on information provided by World Health Organization, allowing us to create a European countries database, containing patterns of gendered consumption and some harmful consequences of drinking. Available data didn't allow us to analyze the important disparities between gendered patterns of alcohol consumption; so, we had to content us with some selection from scientific literature. Romania has a relatively high level of alcohol consumption but, also, an important proportion of abstainers and low consumers. The apparent contradiction could be explained by the high share of people with „heavy episodic drinking”. To note that women in Romania consume 4.2 times less alcohol than men, have a proportion of abstinence 3.1times higher and the percentage of those who drink daily or weekly is 6.1 times less than of men. Regarding the consequences of alcohol consumption, its dependence prevalence has a very low level in Romania but men have a 3.3 times higher risks. „Alcohol use disorder” has, again, a low prevalence but males have a 3.2 higher probability of AUD. Finally, we mention that in Romania there is an important proportion of deaths attributable to alcohol (for men the proportion is 2.6 higher than for women). An important finding: as much as global alcohol consumption increases, most of gender differences diminish.

RESPONSIBLE ALCOHOL CONSUMPTION AND EUROPEAN PUBLIC POLICY

The detrimental effects of alcohol consumption have been the subject of numerous research works from various fields, particularly due to its social impact. As part of public policy, alcohol consumption has frequently been included in national and supranational agendas and eliciting many research studies, reports and consumption reduction strategies. World Health Organization statistics-based reports name European countries as having among the highest levels of alcohol consumption and, while the reduction of it is a stated European Union policy-making objective, the conclusions of the studies are not easily discernible, and the practical results achieved so far, not that effective. In a world of abundance, excessive alcohol consumption remains a rather elusive problem of public policy, due to the complexity of its interactions with all of the biological, psychological and social environments. Many studies so far suggest that the right policy may not be complete abstinence, but rather an approach based on a responsible level of consumption.

CCL2/CCR2 Chemokine System in Embryonic Hypothalamus: Involvement in Sexually Dimorphic Stimulatory Effects of Prenatal Ethanol Exposure on Peptide-Expressing Neurons

Maternal consumption of ethanol during pregnancy is known to increase the offspring’s risk for developing alcohol use disorders and associated behavioral disturbances. Studies in adolescent and adult animals suggest the involvement of neuroimmune and neurochemical systems in the brain that control these behaviors. To understand the origin of these effects during early developmental stages, we examined in the embryo and neonate the effects of maternal intraoral administration of ethanol (2 g/kg/day) from embryonic day 10 (E10) to E15 on the inflammatory chemokine C-C motif ligand 2 (CCL2) and its receptor CCR2 in a specific, dense population of neurons in the lateral hypothalamus (LH), where they are closely related to an orexigenic neuropeptide, melanin-concentrating hormone (MCH), known to promote ethanol consumption and related behaviors. We found that prenatal ethanol exposure increases the expression and density of CCL2 and CCR2 cells along with MCH neurons in the LH and the colocalization of CCL2 with MCH. We also discovered that these effects are sexually dimorphic, consistently stronger in female embryos, and are blocked by maternal administration of a CCL2 antibody (1 and 5 µg/day, i.p., E10-E15) that neutralizes endogenous CCL2 and of a CCR2 antagonist INCB3344 (1 mg/day, i.p., E10-E15) that blocks CCL2′s main receptor. These results, which in the embryo anatomically and functionally link the CCL2/CCR2 system to MCH neurons in the LH, suggest an important role for this neuroimmune system in mediating ethanol’s sexually dimorphic, stimulatory effect on MCH neurons that may promote higher level of alcohol consumption described in females.

Estonia: Problems created by border-trade for applying high-tax alcohol policy

Abstract In early 2000s, Estonia had one of the highest levels of alcohol consumption globally. In 2008, the average salary could buy 62 litres of strong spirits, compared with 28 litres in 2000; the increase of affordability was one of the highest in the EU. Since then, alcohol consumption per capita has been reduced by a third, which has also led to a reduction in related problems: mortality from alcohol-related illnesses has fallen by 40%. This was achieved with the progressive adoption of measures that rely heavily, but not exclusively, on increasing excise taxes. In 2014 a comprehensive alcohol policy document was adopted, paving the way to the measures in all 10 areas of WHO global strategy to reduce harmful use of alcohol. Since then Estonia has launched treatment programme and awareness campaigns, restricted advertising and the exposure of alcohol in the public sphere. By 2017, the over-exploitation of the tax-based measures backfired. The twofold alcohol price difference between Estonia and Latvia, resulting from doubling the excise tax for beer and raising significantly those for other alcoholic beverages, caused an unintended increase in cross-border trade between the two countries. This, in turn, caused a new wave of public discussion around pricing policies, and a loss of popular support for tax increases. As a first step to address the problem, the government halved the tax increase planned for February 2018, thus increasing beer tax by 9% and spirits tax by 5%. Tax increases scheduled for 2019 and 2020 were cancelled, and taxes on spirits, beer and cider were cut by 25% instead. This resulted in Latvia decreasing their spirits taxes by 15% in turn. This development forces health promoters to seek new ways to reduce harm to public health and win back support to healthy policy choices.

Sociodemographic characteristics associated with alcohol consumption and alcohol-related consequences, a latent class analysis of The Norwegian WIRUS screening study

BackgroundFor alcohol, the association with socioeconomic status (SES) is different than for other public health challenges – the associations are complex, and heterogeneous between socioeconomic groups. Specifically, the relationship between alcohol consumption per se and adverse health consequences seems to vary across SES. This observation is called the ‘alcohol harm paradox’. This study aims to describe different patterns of alcohol use and potential problems. Next, the associations between sub-groups characterized by different patterns of alcohol use and potential problems, and age, gender, educational level, full-time employment, occupational level and income is analysed.MethodsEmploying data from the ongoing cross-sectional WIRUS-study, N = 4311 participants were included in the present study. Individual response patterns of the ten-item Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test (AUDIT) were analysed and latent class analysis (LCA) was used to identify latent groups. Next, the associations between the classes identified in the best fitting LCA-model and sociodemographic factors were analysed and presented.ResultsWe identified three classes based on the response patterns on AUDIT. Class 1 was characterised by low-level alcohol consumption and very low probability of negative alcohol-related consequences related to their alcohol consumption. Class 2 was characterised by a higher level of consumption, but despite this, class 2 also had a relatively low probability of reporting negative alcohol-related consequences. Class 3, however, was characterised by high levels of alcohol consumption, and a high probability of reporting negative consequences of their consumption. The classes identified were systematically differentially associated with the included measures of SES, with class 3 characterised by younger age, more males and lower educational attainment.ConclusionsOur findings highlight the interconnectedness of alcohol consumption and alcohol-related consequences. Furthermore, the identified classes and SES yields further insights into to intricate relationship between various socioeconomic factors, alcohol use patterns and related negative consequences.

ASSESSMENT OF ALCOHOL USE BY POPULATION AND RELATED PROBLEMS

Introduction. The development of the public health system provides for the solution of the basic operational functions of public health, including surveillance and assessment of the state of health and well-being of the population, taking into account risks to public health.Given the importance of alcohol as a risk factor for the development of diseases, the study of its prevalence in the population, consumption patterns and health effects is an important public health problem.
 The aim of the study. To identify current trends in alcohol consumption and the associated risk factor for health damage in Ukraine and countries of the WHO European Region.Materials and methods. Bibliographic, medical, statistical and information-analytical methods were used in the study. The key scientific base were the European Health for All Database, the Global Information System on Alcohol and Health (GISAH) and the European Information System on Alcohol and Health (EISAH).
 Results. Significant differences were found in the prevalence of alcohol consumption by population in different regions of the world per capita per year, up to 16 times, with the highest rates in the WHO ER. Ukraine is characterized by high levels of alcohol consumption (8.6 liters) and negative tendencies for their growth during 1991-2016 by 45.8%. At the same time, in Ukraine the consumption of strong alcoholic drinks predominates, while in the countries of the European Union - wine and beer. The increase in alcohol consumption in Ukraine and the prevalence of strong drinks in the structure of consumed products (51.5%) is an unfavorable prognostic indicator and requires the adoption of preventive measures. The negative consequences of alcohol consumption are the prevalence of alcohol dependence (2.2%), alcohol-related disorders (6%), a significant proportion of deaths (20.5%) due to this risk factor in the overall structure of all deaths, etc. Significant is the contribution of alcohol to the formation of indicators of road traffic injuries, including those with a fatal outcome, crime rates, etc.
 Conclusions. Surveillance of the prevalence of alcohol use, patterns of consumption and assessment of alcohol-related public health problems is an important basis for determining directions, justification and taking countermeasures.

Relationship between sun safety behaviours and modifiable lifestyle cancer risk factors and vitamin D levels.

Sun exposure is the most importantenvironmental risk factor for causing skin cancer. This study examines the relationship between sun protection behaviours and modifiable lifestyle risk factors for other cancers as well as vitamin D levels. Cross-sectional data were analysed from two large national health surveys (n=31, 445 and n=5604). Sun exposure and protection were characterized by the presence of sunburn, duration of sun exposure, frequency of seeking shade, frequency of wearing a hat and frequency of wearing sunscreen. Using Statistical Analysis System (SAS) software 9.3.1, multivariate logistic regression models were compiled. Unhealthy behaviour practices were associated with sunburns or infrequent sun protection behaviour, such as cigarette consumption (either current or former smokers), second-hand smoke exposure, not having a regular doctor, higher level of alcohol consumption, street drug usage and low levels of fruit/vegetable consumption. Approximately one-quarter of individuals had less than the recommended value of serum vitamin D levels (<50nmol/L), despite 39.2% of these individuals reporting ≥1hour of sun exposure. Modifiable lifestyle risk factors for other cancers are correlated with infrequently practicing sun protection behaviours for skin cancer prevention. Therefore, cancer prevention campaigns can aim to target all these risk factors associated with different cancers. Sun exposure is not a reliable source to obtain recommended vitamin D levels and that other sources (eg. fish, egg yolk, fortified drinks and supplements) are a safer and more reliable option.

Association between alcohol consumption and impaired work performance (presenteeism): a systematic review

ObjectivesThe aim of this review was to explore the notion of alcohol-related presenteeism; that is, whether evidence in the research literature supports an association between employee alcohol consumption and impaired...

Análisis socioeconómico del consumo excesivo de alcohol en Ecuador

Introducción: el consumo excesivo de alcohol constituye un serio problema de salud pública en Ecuador y se posiciona como una de las principales causas de muerte en el país. Esta investigación tiene como objetivo identificar si el nivel socioeconómico condiciona la probabilidad de que una persona se convierta en consumidor excesivo de alcohol. Materiales y métodos: se usa como fuente de información la Encuesta Ecuatoriana de Condiciones de Vida 2014. El método de estimación es un modelo logístico para determinar el efecto marginal que tiene el nivel socioeconómico en la probabilidad de que un individuo sea catalogado como consumidor excesivo de alcohol; el nivel socioeconómico se aproxima con el nivel de pobreza, situación laboral e instrucción. Resultados: se demuestra que las personas que se encuentran en una situación de pobreza, no culminaron sus estudios secundarios o superiores y están desempleados tienen, en promedio, una mayor probabilidad de caer en el consumo excesivo de alcohol; es decir, los hallazgos confirman que los factores que determinan un bajo nivel socioeconómico vulneran a los individuos a ser consumidores excesivos de alcohol. Además del factor económico, un individuo es más propenso consumir alcohol en exceso cuando es hombre, soltero, mayor de 65 años y habita en la zona urbana. Conclusión: el diseño de política para atender el consumo excesivo de alcohol como un problema de salud pública debe plantearse como ejes de atención aquellos determinantes fundamentales para tener una atención efectiva y que está estrechamente vinculada con los niveles socioeconómicos bajos.

Alcohol usage predicts holistic perception: A novel method for exploring addiction

Holistic perception is a special form of automatic and experience dependent processing that prioritises objects of interest through the visual system. We therefore speculated that higher levels of alcohol consumption may be associated with enhanced holistic perception for alcohol cues. In our first experiment, we confirmed this hypothesis by showing that increasing regular alcohol usage was associated with greater holistic perception of alcohol, but not non-alcohol, cues. We replicated this finding in a second experiment, but confirmed drink-specific holistic perception for lager cues was not predicted by experience with that drink, but general alcohol usage. In our final experiment when alcohol images were absent from the task, higher levels of alcohol consumption predicted decreased holistic perception for non-rewarding cues. Alcohol use is therefore linked to inverse alterations in holistic perception for alcohol versus non-alcohol cues, with the latter's effects context dependent. We hypothesise that such inverse relationships may be due to limited cortical resources becoming reutilised for alcohol cues at the expense of other stimuli. Future work will be required to determine holistic perception's role in maintaining addiction, its predictive value in successful abstinence, and its relationship with characteristics of addiction such as cue reactivity, attentional biases and personality traits.

Alcohol consumption, interpersonal trauma, and drinking to cope with trauma-related distress: An auto-regressive, cross-lagged model.

Alcohol consumption and interpersonal trauma (IPT) co-occur at high rates, particularly in college populations. Two non-mutually-exclusive theories of this comorbidity are the risky behavior model, suggesting that substance use increases likelihood of IPT, and the self-medication model, suggesting that individuals use substances to cope with trauma-related symptoms. Few have simultaneously tested these theories in a sample of college students. Thus, the overarching aim of this longitudinal study (n = 1320) was to identify whether alcohol consumption and IPT are associated with one another, and if IPT and/or posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) impacts use of alcohol to cope with trauma-related distress. Data were collected from a longitudinal study of college students attending a large public university. Participants in the current study were on average 18.46 years old at study entry, primarily female (70%), and of diverse racial/ethnic backgrounds (e.g., 49.4% White, 19.7% Black, 17.2% Asian). Results from auto-regressive, cross-lagged models indicated that alcohol consumption preceded IPT exposure. In contrast, IPT was not prospectively associated with alcohol consumption. Those reporting probable PTSD, but not IPT, reported more use of alcohol to cope with trauma-related distress. These findings provide support for the risky behavior model, indicating that those with higher levels of alcohol consumption may be a vulnerable group in terms of likelihood of IPT. Findings also suggest that those reporting probable PTSD may be at risk for use of alcohol to cope with trauma-related distress. Implications of these findings, in light of study limitations, are discussed. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2019 APA, all rights reserved).

On both sides of the bar. Bartenders’ accounts of work-related drinking

Bartenders are expected to control guests’ excessive alcohol consumption, but hazardous drinking is also common among staff in the bar industry. This paper explores bartenders’ accounts of work-related drinking and discusses how structural and cultural working conditions may impact drinking practices among staff. The data comprises 21 in-depth interviews with bartenders from different venues in Oslo, Norway: eight females and 13 males, aged 22–36 years (mean age 27). The analyses demonstrated three clusters of accounts of work-related drinking. First, the bartenders emphasised availability of alcohol in their work environment and that they perceived themselves as sophisticated drinkers. Second, drinking alcohol was described as a coping strategy to deal with stressful work and as a way of ‘coming down’ after high-energy work. Third, bartenders talked about their work as part of a lifestyle in which alcohol played an important role and they described intense friendships with colleagues. Occupational identity and identification with co-workers involved norms that encouraged a high level of alcohol consumption. Bartenders’ work and leisure time are closely intertwined and alcohol plays an important role in both areas. Server training programmes should be developed that take into account this workplace drinking culture.

Health and lifestyle behaviors in colorectal cancer survivors with and without Lynch syndrome.

Lynch syndrome (LS), a hereditary cancer syndrome, accounts for approximately 3% of colorectal cancers (CRC). Positive health behaviors and surveillance are preventive strategies, but research on whether recommended behavioral guidelines are followed by individuals with LS is limited. Additional health education and promotion could be beneficial to the improved survivorship of CRC survivors. Explore health and lifestyle behaviors in CRC survivors with and without LS. We conducted a case-control study of CRC survivors with and without LS using a mailed questionnaire. Recruitment was conducted via patient registries at The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center (cases n = 33; controls n = 75) and through social media (cases n = 42). CRC survivors with and without LS in our study had substantially lower smoking prevalence (5.5% and 2.7%) compared to national prevalence (18.0%). However, they had higher levels of alcohol consumption (36.8% and 10.3% for male and female LS survivors, respectively, and 35.8% and 22.0% for male and female sporadic survivors, respectively) compared to national prevalence of 13.88% for males and 6.02% for females. Both groups of CRC survivors participate in negative health behaviors that impact survivorship. More research is needed to examine the relationship between personal engagement in preventive behaviors and patient-provider relationships to improve health behaviors and explore strategies for intervention. Additionally, better health education and lifestyle change recommendations would promote and reinforce positive health outcomes in the CRC population and especially in LS survivors.

High levels of alcohol intoxication and strong support for restrictive alcohol policies among music festival visitors

BackgroundAlcohol intoxication is associated with problems such as violence, injuries, drunk driving and sexual risk-taking, and music festivals are considered a high-risk setting for high levels of alcohol consumption. This study investigates intoxication levels, drinking habits, and opinions on alcohol use and alcohol policies among visitors at one of the largest music festivals in Sweden in 2017.MethodsA cross-sectional study assessing alcohol intoxication levels was conducted at a music festival (~ 50,000 attendees). Two research teams collected data at the two festival entrances during two nights, from approximately 6:00 pm to 01:30 am. Blood alcohol concentration (BAC) levels were measured using breath analyzers. A face-to-face questionnaire was used to interview attendees about their alcohol use in the past 12 months using the Alcohol Use Disorder Identification Test-Consumption (AUDIT-C), as well as about their personal opinions on alcohol use and alcohol policies (statement). BAC levels were compared between categories of various factors using Mann-Whitney U test and Kruskal-Wallis test. The distributions of BAC, AUDIT-C and statement category across gender was analyzed using Pearson’s Chi-square tests. Associations of BAC levels with different factors were analyzed using Spearman rank correlation and multinomial logistic regression.ResultsA total of 1663 attendees were randomly selected and invited to participate, and 1410 consented (63.7% men, 34.9% women, age 16–64 years). The proportion of drinkers was 81%. Among the drinkers, the median BAC level was 0.082%. Thirty-one percent of the participants had a BAC level above 0.10%. Forty-two percent of the participants reported binge drinking monthly, and 20% said that they binge drank weekly. Sixty-three percent of participants reported risky drinking habits. A self-reported risky alcohol habit increased the risk of a high alcohol intoxication level at the festival. Respondents were supportive of restrictive alcohol policies. Men had significantly higher BAC levels, reported more often risky alcohol habits and were less supportive of restrictive alcohol policies than women.ConclusionsThe results indicate that participants at music festivals in Sweden have high levels of alcohol intoxication and largely support restrictive alcohol policies. Thus, there is both a need and support for the implementation of alcohol prevention strategies at festivals.