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Trends across the night in patronage, intoxication, and licensed venue characteristics in five Australian cities

journal contribution
posted on 2017-01-01, 00:00 authored by Kerri CoomberKerri Coomber, Nicolas Droste, A Pennay, Richelle MayshakRichelle Mayshak, Florentine MartinoFlorentine Martino, Peter MillerPeter Miller
BACKGROUND: While alcohol-related harm is reportedly greater on weekend evenings, research investigating trends in the intoxication levels of patrons and factors that increase risk of harm over the night is lacking. OBJECTIVES: The aim was to observe trends over the course of the night for patron demographics, venue characteristics and patron intoxication. METHODS: Observations of licensed venues and patrons in night-time entertainment districts of five Australian cities were conducted. In total, 798 observations occurred between 9 pm and 2 am on Friday and Saturday nights across 61 unique bars, nightclubs, and pubs. Patron characteristics such as gender and percentage of patrons under 25 years of age were estimated. Measures of venue characteristics included number of patrons, percentage venue capacity, ease of patron movement, bar crowding, and time to service. Measures of intoxication included the percentage of patrons showing any signs of alcohol intoxication, percentage of patrons too intoxicated to remain in the venue, overall level of intoxication, and percentage of patrons showing signs of drug use. RESULTS: Patron capacity increased across the night, peaking at 11 pm in bars, and 1 am in nightclubs. Patron intoxication measures increased for all venue types across the night. Patrons showed more signs of drug use in nightclubs than other venue types. CONCLUSIONS: Increasing intoxication and decreasing patron numbers later in the night provides support for restricted trading hours and improved responsible service of alcohol policies. Specific venue types should be targeted to reduce drug use in the night-time economy.

History

Journal

Substance use & misuse

Volume

52

Issue

9

Pagination

1185 - 1195

Publisher

Taylor & Francis

Location

Abingdon, Eng.

ISSN

1082-6084

eISSN

1532-2491

Language

eng

Publication classification

C Journal article; C1 Refereed article in a scholarly journal

Copyright notice

2017, Taylor & Francis Group, LLC