NCJ Number
212180
Journal
Journal of Drug Education Volume: 35 Issue: 2 Dated: 2005 Pages: 95-109
Date Published
2005
Length
15 pages
Annotation
A sample of 371 Australian university students estimated the amount of alcohol in a standard drink and the number of standard drinks contained in popular alcoholic beverages, and they completed questionnaires on their perceptions of short-term and long-term harms related to the consumption of various alcoholic beverages.
Abstract
The Perception of Harm Questionnaire, which was developed specifically for this study, consisted of 24 statements. Six statements reflected short-term physical harm (e.g., vomiting), short-term social harm (e.g., engaging in embarrassing behavior), long-term physical harm (e.g., liver damage), and long-term social harm (e.g., impaired relationship with your spouse). Separate responses were required for beer, wine, spirits, and alcoholic sodas (premixed alcopops). Regarding the estimates of alcoholic content of beverages, students were generally inaccurate, tending to overestimate the alcoholic content of various alcoholic beverages. They also lacked knowledge of Australia's national guidelines for low-risk drinking. Students' perceived short-term and long-term harms of drinking various alcoholic beverages reflected a sense of invulnerability to the actual harms of excessive drinking. Students' knowledge of the alcoholic content of beverages and perceptions of harm were not related to the amount of alcohol they reportedly consumed, as measured by the Khavari Alcohol Test. Overall, the knowledge, beliefs, and perceptions of this sample suggest that university students are a high-risk population that is unaware of the nature and risks of heavy drinking. 3 tables and 21 references