A recent study was conducted in Pennsylvania on "strategic drinking," better known among college students as "pre-gaming." This study explored both the negative and positive outcomes of pre-gaming.
During the study, pre-gaming was defined as "the practice of drinking alcohol in a private setting prior to attending an organized event/social activity where alcohol might or might not be served."
Students from 10 private and public higher education institutions in Pennsylvania completed a questionnaire about their drinking habits. They then formed small focus groups to discuss drinking, especially pre-gaming.
The study was conducted by Beth DeRicco, associate director of the Center for College Health and Safety Education Development Center.
The participants discussed their drinking behaviors during the two weeks prior to the meeting. Approximately 35.7 percent of the participants said they had not engaged in pre-gaming while 39.3 percent said they had pre-gamed once or twice. The remaining 25.0 percent said they had pre-gamed more than three times.
Of the participants who had engaged in pre-gaming, 39 percent reported that they had consumed five or more drinks the last time they pre-gamed while 61 percent of the participants had consumed less than five drinks.
Some participants noted that the definition given for pre-gaming did not adequately emphasize the involvement of rapid alcohol intake in a short period of time for the purpose of getting intoxicated before a social event.
Some students at the University feel that pre-gaming is a safer way to drink. When pre-gaming, students tend to know the people around them and exactly what they are drinking.
"I think pre-gaming can be a good idea because you are consuming alcohol that you have mixed yourself so you know where it is coming from," said Samantha Berbert, Alcohol & Drug Abuse Prevention Team member. "Also, you are drinking with friends, which is safer."
However, pre-gaming can also be dangerous.
"We think that pre-gaming can lead to a higher BAC which leads to negative consequences," said Susan Bruce, director of the Center of Alcohol and Substance Abuse Education.
At least one University student said he agreed with this statement.
"I don't think pre-gaming itself can be dangerous, but pre-gaming, then going out and drinking hard at a party can be," fourth-year College student Christopher Winter said.
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