Women's descriptions of drinking in bars: Reasons and risks 1

Fifty-two women bar drinkers participated in focus group discussions about women's reasons for drinking, victimization experiences, and behaviors that influence risk for victimization, in bars. The majority of the participants were White (67.3%), one-third were Black (30.8%), and one was Native American. Qualitative data analytic techniques were used to assess the content of these discussions. Women described distinct reasons for going to bars and provided numerous accounts of aggression they had witnessed or experienced associated with this setting. Depictions of physical violence ranged from having an object thrown at them or being pushed, to accounts of rape and attempted murder. These women also described observable changes in other women's behavior following alcohol consumption, and how these behaviors increase risk for victimization in bars. The qualitative findings are discussed in terms of what they tell us about women bar drinkers and the insight they provide for designing future studies and interventions that focus on education and prevention.