Drinking and driving: drinking patterns and drinking problems

Two perspectives guide examinations of alcohol-related injury; studies of drinking behaviors which characterize the activities in which drinkers participate, and studies of drinking patterns which characterize individuals' likelihoods of intoxication. This paper presents a study of self-reported drinking and driving using both perspectives. A theoretical model of the relationships of drinking patterns and drinking behaviors to drinking and driving is derived. This model is used as the basis for analyses of self-reports of driving after drinking and driving while intoxicated. Using cross-sectional data from a study of alcohol-related injury in the United States, these self-reports were related to measures of respondent socio-demographics, drinking patterns, beverage preferences and routine activities. The results showed: (1) that the drinking pattern measures were significantly related to likelihoods of drinking and driving; (2) these measures were superior to alternate measures of drinking patterns in their ability to explain drinking and driving; (3) the measures of beverage preferences were unrelated to either measure of drinking and driving; and (4) that the utilization of certain venues for drinking (bars and restaurants) was significantly related to both measures of drinking and driving. It is concluded that observed socio-demographic differences in drinking and driving (e.g. related to ethnicity and marital status) are due to related differences in drinking patterns and drinking behaviors.