Typical Sources and Locations Where Adolescent Recent Alcohol Users Obtain and Consume Alcohol based on Intensity of Use: Findings from a National Study

Background: The purpose of the present study was to examine whether typical sources and locations where adolescent recent alcohol users, defined as adolescents who drank alcohol in the past month, obtain and consume alcohol differed significantly based on intensity of use. Intensity of use was based on binge drinking, which was defined as drinking five or more alcoholic beverages in a row on the same occasion. Methods: Adolescent recent alcohol users from 12 to 17 years of age (N = 2,321) who participated in the National Survey on Drug Use and Health were included. After running a series of logistic regression models, all significant variables were retained and included in the final multiple logistic regression analyses to identify the percent of variance accounted for by the models. Results: Predictors for sources of last alcoholic beverage drank based on intensity were race/ethnicity, age, number of days drank in the past 30 days, and usual number of drinks per day in past 30 days. Predictors for locations where alcohol users drank their last alcoholic beverage based on intensity of use were race/ethnicity, number of days binge drank in the past 30 days, usual number of drinks per day in past 30 days, and age first drank alcohol. Conclusions: Alcohol prevention initiatives should focus on reducing social access to alcohol for adolescent recent alcohol users. Alcohol sources varied based on intensity of alcohol use and therefore programming that educates adolescents on the serious consequences associated with binge drinking may reduce drinking.