Recreational Nightlife Research Articles

Designing the Night: Ishikawa Hideaki and Shopping Districts in Nagoya, Japan, 1920–1933

From the 1920s onwards, nights in Japanese industrial cities became increasingly resplendent and bright. This was attributed not only to an expanding urban economy, but also to the emergence of shopping districts, called shōtengai, within which small independent stores united and organised according to neighbourhood. These stores collectively participated in the installation of novel architectural elements: display windows, glass cases, and electric billboards, popularised by the concurrent, nationwide movement of commercial art — shōgyō bijutsu. The case of Nagoya indicated that formation of shōtengai and the shōgyō bijutsu movement affected each other, both promoted by calls for the modernisation of retailing and retail design. This article explicates the logic behind city planner Ishikawa Hideaki’s endeavours to create peoples’ spaces for ease and relaxation in Nagoya amid the ongoing rationalisation of small independent stores’ businesses — in shōtengai and by shōgyō bijutsu. These led him to conceptualise his notable methodology, which he called ‘City Planning for the Night’. This was a strategy to create the formula by which the essential brilliance and liveliness of recreational nightlife in shōtengai were systematically created through integration of the design and management of small independent stores and the shōtengai themselves. Ishikawa’s City Planning for the Night methodology encapsulated his commitment to enhancing the emerging cultural role of shōtengai. While urban quarters, called sakariba — referring to entertainment districts — historically comprised theatres and teahouses surrounding temples and shrines, Ishikawa’s work served to define and design shōtengai as the modern iteration of sakariba.

Estándares europeos en salud y seguridad para los locales de ocio nocturno

There is growing concern to understand those interventions which when effectively implemented may bring reduction in the harms associated with recreational nightlife venues. Management of drinking environments vary across Europe and we are faced with the need to set standards across European countries. The aim of this study is to present evidence highlighted by literature to a diverse sample of European recreational industry representatives and other key stakeholders (74 participants in 14 European countries), to ascertain their judgements on level of implementation, acceptance, effectiveness and regulation to propose a set of standards be implemented in European recreational nightlife settings. Results revealed that most industry representatives display high rates of agreement with those preventive interventions deemed most important by evidence, including those concerning venue management, underage checkouts, staff training and collaboration with the police. However, participants expressed doubts on further regulation fearing it would mean further obstacles such as added paperwork and costs. Indeed, in countries were night-time economy is not well developed or is already suffering the impact of the economic crisis, we found that nightlife industry is not keen to adopt measures they may perceive to lower their incomes; while in countries where these practices are widely implemented, industry representatives were reluctant for these practices to be regulated or enforced since it would require a higher level of compliance. Regulating and enforcing the standards highlighted both by literature and industry representatives should be a priority to ensure promotion of health and safety in nightlife premises.

Borracheras, conducción de vehículos y relaciones sexuales en jóvenes consumidores de cocaína y éxtasis

Traffic accidents, sexually-transmitted diseases, unwanted pregnancies, drunkenness, and drug use (especially psychostimulants) are negative aspects associated with recreational nightlife. The aim of the present study is to analyze in a sample of 1214 young people (aged 15-25; 49.7% males, 50.3% females) whether psychostimulant users (cocaine and ecstasy) have a higher frequency of drunkenness and risk behaviours related to sex and to driving. We also analyze the importance of these behaviours in the prediction of psychostimulant use in the last year. The results indicate that psychostimulant users get drunk more frequently, are more likely to have seen a relative drunk, and present more risk behaviours in the contexts of driving and full sexual relations. Therefore, cocaine and ecstasy users are a risk population who need specific preventive programs.

La influencia de las redes personales en el uso y abuso de alcohol y drogas

Party networks of young people are very important for socialization, but can also influence their involvement in risk behaviours or they can be protective. The influence of nightlife network of friends in using alcohol/ drugs is investigated through a survey. We explore the individual-centred networks (7.360 friends) of 1.363 recreational nightlife users in 9 European cities in 2006, through 22 friend characteristics. Statistical analysis utilised factorial analysis with varimax rotation and analysis of variance. The 69% of the sample had been drunk during the last month and more than half of them had used illicit drugs. Most of the respondents use to have a stable group of friends with whom to go out. Networks main characteristics were being more or less deviant and/or prosocial. Having not network or a less prosocial network is related to be low consumers. Having a non deviant, but prosocial network is related to being a person who gets drunk without using illegal drugs. Users of illegal drugs have a deviant and prosocial network. Finally ex users have less deviant networks, but at the same time a helper and prosocial network. Males drug use patterns appear to be less affected by the characteristics of their networks. Some preventive consequences coming from these results are already known as the importance of having less deviant friends. But some other issues are less known: to enhance certain prosocial skills may have counter preventive effects among recreational users and to influence the network for preventative purposes may be more effective among females.

Consumo de drogas, alcohol y conductas sexuales en los ambientes recreativos nocturnos de Portugal

Night recreational settings have become a key location for the socialisation of young people. For customers attending these places, the consumption of alcohol and drugs is related to changes in sexual decision making and associated with increased likelihood of engagement in more risky sexual behaviours. To identify the characteristics of Portuguese young people who attend nightclubs, pubs and bars; to explore relationships between attendance at these settings and the consumption of alcohol and drugs; to study associations between substance use and sexual behaviour. Respondent-driven sampling methodology was used in nine Portuguese cities to survey 1142 young people who attend nightlife leisure locations. Respondents regularly go out at night, especially at weekends. The most used substances are alcohol, cannabis, cocaine and ecstasy. Alcohol and drugs users have more regular and deeply-rooted night recreation habits than nonusers and drugs consumption increases with increased recreational activities. In the last 12 months, 83.3% of the respondents have already had sexual intercourse (X= 2.0 partner; SD = 2.3), 51.0% had sex under the influence of alcohol, 22.9% under the influence of drugs and 46.7% agreed that this influence made them have unsafe sex. Early alcohol and drug use was proportionately related to an early sexual experience. Alcohol and drugs use s were more likely to adopt more sexual risk behaviours than non-users. The enjoyment of recreational nightlife settings exposes Portuguese clubbers to environmental factors which, in combination with substance use, may influence the nature of relationships between alcohol and drug use and sexual behaviour.

Which young people accept a lift from a drunk or drugged driver?

Introduction Riding with a drunk and/or a drugged driver (RDD) is a risk behaviour that has received very little attention in spite of its potential dangers. Young people involved in the recreational nightlife context are especially at risk. Method 1363 regular users of recreational nightlife from nine European countries (mean age: 21.75; 51.5% women) filled out a self-administered and anonymous questionnaire (in 2006). Results 37.2% had practised RDD during the previous month. RDD is related to drunkenness and use of drugs, personality factors such as impulsivity, preferring to use a private car to get to nightlife venues, living in a southern European country and being unemployed. No significant influence was found for age, gender, educational level or socioeconomic status. Discussion It is important to raise awareness about the high prevalence of RDD. This lack of awareness can be related to its social acceptance among young people. The use of private cars for going to nightlife venues should be discouraged.

Traffic Risk Behaviors at Nightlife: Drinking, Taking Drugs, Driving, and Use of Public Transport by Young People

Road traffic crashes associated with nightlife alcohol and recreational drug use are a major health problem for young people. Objectives: This study explores use of different forms of transport to and from nightlife environments and the relationships between traffic risk behaviors, drunkenness, and drug consumption. Methods: 1363 regular nightlife users from nine European cities in 2006 completed a self-administered and anonymous questionnaire. Sampling utilized a variation of respondent-driven sampling. Results: Private car was the most frequent form of transport used when going out, especially by males and older individuals. Drug use was related to crashes and traffic risk behaviors, including having a lift from someone drunk or driving drunk or driving having taken drugs; drunkenness was related to risk behaviors but not to crashes (possibly because drunk people tend to use the private car less). Males showed higher levels of drunkenness and drug consumption, traffic risk behaviors, and traffic crashes. Age is not related to the traffic risk behaviors, but older individuals had less crashes. Conclusions: There are serious health problems related to transport and recreational nightlife activities. It is necessary to improve later public transport services, complemented by actions that deter the use of private cars. The relationships of both drunkenness and cannabis/cocaine use with traffic risk behaviors should be addressed and programs implemented to change risk perceptions on the effects of illegal drugs on driving.

Qué drogas se prefieren para las relaciones sexuales en contextos recreativos

Many people associate the use of alcohol and other drugs with sexuality. It is common to find that each drug is associated with a specific effect on sexuality. Weekend recreational nightlife settings are increasingly important places for the young, and frequented by them more and more in search of sex and drug-taking opportunities. In this research we are interested in the role the young attribute to recreational drugs with regard to their sexual practices. We interviewed a sample of 100 young people from four Spanish cities, using a questionnaire with both open and closed questions. Snowball sampling was used to find those who had had sexual experience, who had taken recreational drugs and who liked going to discos, bars, etc. at the weekend. We found that these young people have a very precise idea of how each drug functions within sexuality. Considering all four parameters analysed, alcohol is by far the most popular (to initiate the sexual encounter, for more unusual or the "hottest" experiences, to increase arousal, and to prolong sex), though in the last case in particular the preferred drug was cocaine. Cannabis does not interest them because of its relaxing effects, while ecstasy is chosen more for remaining active and enjoying oneself than for its sexual effects. Women use alcohol more than men (mainly to increase arousal, when they want unusual sex or to prolong sex) and use cocaine less.

Recreational nightlife: Risk and protective factors for drug misuse among young Europeans in recreational environments

Aim: To assess the predictive relevance of recreational nightlife-related variables for drug use in comparison with other intrapersonal and interpersonal risk and protective factors.Sample: A total of 1777 young people were interviewed in recreational nightlife environments in 10 European cities. The sample was balanced by drug use (users and non-users), gender and age.Measurements: Participants were interviewed on the basis of a structured questionnaire comprising several risk domain factors (sociodemographics, substance-use history, risk behaviours and related attitudes, motivations and perceptions relating to substance use, peer and family substance use and opinions, motivation and clubbing habits).Findings: A global multivariate logistic regression analysis correctly classified 92% of the individuals using drugs. Among the factors studied, the group of variables relating to the management of recreational activities (opinions, motivation and clubbing habits) were the best predictors of drug use. But traditional risk factors are also relevant in predicting drug use among recreational drug users.Conclusions: The results suggests the need to address the management of weekend recreational habits as an important objective in the prevention of drug use and misuse, including the implication and the meaning given to recreational nightlife.

Vida recreativa nocturna de los jóvenes españoles como factor de riesgo frente a otros más tradicionales

To estimate the predictive relevance for drug use of recreational nightlife related variables in comparison with other intrapersonal and interpersonal risk / protective factors. 806 young people interviewed by Irefrea in recreational nightlife environments from 4 Spanish cities during year 2001. The sample was approximately balanced by drug use (users and non-users), gender and age group (adolescents and young adults). Participants were interviewed using a structured questionnaire comprising questions on demographics, drug use frequency and related attitudes, sensation seeking, risk and deviant behaviours, habits on recreational nightlife, peer and family characteristics and mediating variables. Multivariate predictors for drug use were several intrapersonal and interpersonal risk / protective factors: ever used tobacco and alcohol, lower religiosity and risk perception for drug use, involvement in risk behaviours and in problem behaviours, more favourable attitudes for drug use, peer drug use and bonding with drug-using peers. Drug users are also distinguished from non-users by their recreational habits (greater involvement, specific significance and cultural and physical context in recreational nightlife). A global multivariate logistic regression analysis correctly classified 92% individuals using legal and illegal drugs. Among the factors studied, recreational styles were between the best predictors of drug use. It suggests the need to make an in depth study of weekend recreational habits and add them to the objectives of the prevention of drug use and misuse.

Gestión de la vida recreativa: ¿Un factor de riesgo determinante en el uso reciente de drogas?

El objetivo es describir los hábitos recreativos, uso de drogas y conductas de riesgo entre jóvenes que salen de noche durante los fines de semana, y estimar la relevancia predictiva de la vida recreativa sobre el uso de drogas legales o ilegales, teniendo en cuenta otros factores de riesgo individuales. La muestra incluye 1340 jóvenes entrevistados en cinco ciudades españolas. Casi todos abusan del tabaco y alcohol. Se ha dividido la muestra en los que consumieron (775; 58%) o no alguna droga ilegal recientemente (565; 42%). El uso de drogas ilegales aparece asociado con diversas características personales: inicio más temprano en el consumo de cannabis y alcohol, sexo masculino, menor percepción del riesgo en el uso de drogas, mayor búsqueda de sensaciones y mayor implicación en conductas – problema y desviadas socialmente. Los consumidores de drogas ilegales se distinguen también en sus hábitos recreativos (salen más, buscan contextos con mayor disponibilidad de drogas, tienen distintas motivaciones para salir). Un análisis multivariante clasificó correctamente casi cuatro de cada cinco sujetos no-consumidores o consumidores de drogas ilegales. Entre los factores estudiados, los relacionados con la vida recreativa fueron los mejores predictores del uso de drogas. Se desprende de estos datos la necesidad de estudiar en profundidad la vida recreativa de los jóvenes e integrar el contexto recreativo en los objetivos de la prevención del uso y abuso de drogas.

Health and safety problems in recreational nightlife in the Island of Mallorca

Objective: To examine data on public health problems in recreational life, particularly those associated with conditions of clubs and bars in Mallorca. The hypothesis is that context creates conditions that promote and/or prevent the problems that can arise with drug use. Methods: Data related to emergency healthcare provided during weekends were examined, complemented by qualitative research to evaluate the environmental conditions in the most popular clubs in Mallorca and to assess their possible relationship with public health problems. Results: A systematic epidemiological study of health and safety problems was difficult because of the lack of systematic information collected by health services about their intervention in emergency situations. However, direct observation in the clubs has highlighted a lack of public transport operating to recreational venues, overcrowding, broken glass on the floor, lack of first aid management, high price of drinking water, excessive heat, obstructed emergency exits, the general consumption of alcohol and other drugs and poor availability of contraceptives. The emergency health services reported attending to traffic accidents, drug overdose, aggressions, traumas and drunkenness. A preventive policy is urgently required to reduce the incidence of such problems.