Context-related drinking assessment in a community sample

Aims: The objective of this report was to determine if a context-related drinking assessment would aid in the prediction of alcohol problems and alcohol dependence beyond the information provided by more general quantity/frequency measures. Methods: Individuals were recruited from a study on bar violence (n=637). In addition to a general quantity/frequency assessment of alcohol consumption, participants were asked to report their usual quantity and frequency of consumption in the past year at eight different situations. The context-related measure was compared to the more general quantity/frequency assessment in terms of similarities between the assessments and their relation to measures of alcohol problems and dependence. Findings: Both assessment techniques were highly correlated to each other and to all measures of alcohol problems and dependence. Among men, the context-related assessment was significantly associated with alcohol problems and dependence, and it provided unique information beyond the general quantity/frequency measure. Among women, the context-related measures provided no additional information. Conclusions: For men, the addition of a context-related drinking assessment to a more general quantity/frequency measure of consumption provides additional information about the relation between alcohol consumption and certain alcohol-related problems.