Revellers who down cheap alcohol before leaving home end up drinking twice as much

Cash-strapped revelers who get drunk on cheap alcohol at home before they go out for the evening are making a false economy, say researchers. They end up drinking twice as much because they drink the same amount while out at a bar than they would have done without drinking at home. Scientists added those who ‘pre-load’ before they a night on the tiles are more likely to engage in 'risky behaviour' - such as taking drugs or having 'unsafe' sex - and suffer from blackouts or bad hangovers the next day.

Drinking games: Cheap alcohol at home can lead to risky behaviour when out

One in five people surveyed reported using drugs and eight per cent had unprotected sex when they did not plan to after boozing before a night out. Five per cent of men and three per cent of women injured themselves or someone else after ‘pre-partying.’ Florian Labhart, of Addiction Switzerland, which conducted the study of 183 people, said: 'Pre-drinking has been found in about one third of all on-premise drinking, which is a very high rate. Considering that pre-drinking leads people to consume nearly twice the normal amount of alcohol on a given night, its prevalence should not be underestimated from a public-health perspective.'

Dr Labhart added: 'It’s important that young people count the number of drinks they have during a night and to remember how many drinks they had already when they reach a new drinking location.' Dr Shannon Kenney, co-author of the study, said pre-drinking did not reduce or replace the amount of alcohol consumed later on in the night.
She said drinkers should pace themselves and avoid playing drinking games.

The study from the non-profit organisation also recommended reducing late night opening hours at off licences and more staff training when it comes to serving alcohol. Dr Kenney added: 'This may enable drinkers to more fully enjoy safer drinking experiences and avoid negative consequences.' The findings are due to be published in the journal Alcoholism: Clinical and Experimental Research.

 Source: Daily Mail UK 

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