Malt Liquor UseMalt Liquor Use A Community College Study A Community College Study

Meng-Jinn Chen, Ph.D.Meng-Jinn Chen, Ph.D.

Prevention Research CenterPacific Institute for Research and Evaluation

BackgroundBackground

Malt liquor beveragesMalt liquor beverages• Have higher alcohol content (6-8%) than beer (4-5%)Have higher alcohol content (6-8%) than beer (4-5%)• Are often packaged in large volume containers (40oz)Are often packaged in large volume containers (40oz)• Are sold as beer but at cheaper prices ($1-2 per 40oz)Are sold as beer but at cheaper prices ($1-2 per 40oz)

• Are typically consumed in large quantities in a short Are typically consumed in large quantities in a short

period of timeperiod of time • Sample brands: Colt 45, King Cobra, Mickey’s Old Sample brands: Colt 45, King Cobra, Mickey’s Old

English, St. IdesEnglish, St. Ides

It has been speculated that malt liquor is It has been speculated that malt liquor is appealing to young people because of the appealing to young people because of the cheaper prices and beer-like tastecheaper prices and beer-like taste

SurveySurvey

Time: Sept. 2002 (2 weeks)Time: Sept. 2002 (2 weeks) 45 daytime English classes45 daytime English classes Self-administered anonymous questionnaireSelf-administered anonymous questionnaire A letter and a fact sheet to students A letter and a fact sheet to students Verbal consent at surveyVerbal consent at survey $20 for participation$20 for participation Response rate = 87% Response rate = 87%

Participant DemographicsParticipant Demographics

N = 1,226 N = 1,226 40% male40% male 20% Asian, 6% Black, 38% Caucasian, 25% 20% Asian, 6% Black, 38% Caucasian, 25%

Latino, and 10% other.Latino, and 10% other. Age: 15 to 65 (mean=21, mode=18)Age: 15 to 65 (mean=21, mode=18)

75% 75% ≤20, 12% 21-25, 12% ≥26≤20, 12% 21-25, 12% ≥26

(Younger students were over-sampled)(Younger students were over-sampled)

Sample representation by genderSample representation by gender

0

10

20

30

40

50

60

70

male female

School

Sample

Participants

Sample representation by ethnicitySample representation by ethnicity

0

5

10

15

20

25

30

35

40

45

White Latino Asian Black Other

School

Sample

Participants

Sample representation by ageSample representation by age

0

10

20

30

40

50

60

70

<19 20-24 25-29 30+

School

Sample

Participants

Malt liquor use,Malt liquor use,Heavy/problem drinking,Heavy/problem drinking,

&&Other problem behaviorsOther problem behaviors

The following analyses were limited to students of age 25 or younger.

Prevalence of malt liquor usePrevalence of malt liquor use

44

3338

56

48 52

0

10

20

30

40

50

60

All Drinkers

Male Female All

Prevalence by AgePrevalence by Age

3742

5247

0

10

20

30

40

50

60

All Drinkers

15-20 21-25

Prevalence by Ethnicity (1)Prevalence by Ethnicity (1)Total sampleTotal sample

24 24

4144 46

0

10

20

30

40

50

Asian Black Latino White Other

Prevalence by Ethnicity (2)Prevalence by Ethnicity (2)Drinkers onlyDrinkers only

42

5256

50

0

10

20

30

40

50

60

Asian Latino White Other

Note: Very few Black students reported drinking, they were combined with Other.

Drinking PatternDrinking Pattern

Malt liquor drinkers vs. non-malt liquor drinkersMalt liquor drinkers vs. non-malt liquor drinkers

ML drinkers reported significantly more…ML drinkers reported significantly more… 30-day frequency-quantity30-day frequency-quantity 30-day freq. of heavy drinking30-day freq. of heavy drinking 30-day freq. of intoxication30-day freq. of intoxication

ML drinkers scored higher on AUDITML drinkers scored higher on AUDIT

AUDIT items

Malt liquor

Drinker (n = 390)

Non- Malt liquor

Drinker (n = 368)

F-testa

a. Frequency of drinking 2.08 1.57 67.2**

b. Usual quantity 1.65 0.82 104.0**

c. Have 6 or more drinks of alcohol on one occasion 1.60

0.78

126.5**

d. Find that you were not able to stop drinking once you had started

0.54

0.29

16.5**

e. Fail to do what was normally expected from you because of you drinking

0.67

0.39

21.9**

f. Need a first drink in the morning to get yourself going after a heavy drinking session

0.14

0.04

8.4*

g. Have a feeling of guilt or remorse after drinking 0.47

0.32

6.5*

h. Find yourself not able to remember what happened the night before because you had been drinking

0.70

0.26

59.9**

i. You or someone else have been injured as a result of your drinking

0.82

0.48

11.9*

j. A relative, friend, or health care professional has ever been concerned about your drinking or suggested you cut down your drinking

0.57

0.22

29.3**

Total score 9.24 5.17 107.5** adegrees of freedom = 1,756. *p < .01; **p < .001.

AUDIT = Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test

Substance

Non- Drinkers (n = 271)

Non- Malt Liquor Drinkers

(n = 368)

Malt Liquor Drinkers

(n = 390)

Tobaccoa 1.1 9.0* 16.4**

Any illicit drugb 6.6 37.8* 67.2**

Marijuana 5.5 35.6* 63.1**

Club drugs or Ecstasy 2.2 7.1* 15.9**

Amphetamines/ methamphetamines

0.4 3.5* 9.0**

Hallucinogens 0.0 4.3* 9.7**

Narcotics 0.0 2.7* 5.9

Cocaine 0.4 3.8* 9.5**

aTobacco use was measured by asking respondents whether they currently smoke cigarettes on a regular basis. bIllicit drug use was measured by asking respondents whether they used any of the illicit drugs in the past 12 months. *The difference between non-drinkers and non-malt liquor drinkers was statistically significant (p < .01). **The difference between malt liquor drinkers and non-malt liquor drinkers was statistically significant (p < .01).

ML drinkers were more likely to use ML drinkers were more likely to use tobacco and other illicit drugs tobacco and other illicit drugs

ML drinkers were more likely to engage ML drinkers were more likely to engage in problem behaviorsin problem behaviors

Problem Behavior

Non Drinkers (n = 271)

Non-malt Liquor Drinkers (n = 368)

MaltLiquor Drinkers (n = 390)

Any problem 65.3 85.1a 89.2 Cut classes 50.6 69.8a 80.3b Cheated in school 32.1 46.5a 51.5 Taken money that did not belong to you 14.0 22.8a 24.1 Stolen things from a store 6.3 18.2a 23.8 Stolen something worth more than $50 1.5 5.4a 10.8b Purposely damaged other people's property 13.3 16.8 27.2b Been in a fight where you hit someone 14.8 22.6a 33.3b Started a fist fight or shoving match 5.2 9.0 15.9b Attacked someone intending to seriously injure that person 1.1 5.2a 9.7 Been in a gang fight 1.5 1.9 5.1 Threatened someone with a gun or knife 1.1 2.2 6.4b Carried a handgun 1.1 4.9a 8.5 Sold illegal drugs 0.4 6.0a 19.2b

aDifference in prevalence of problem behavior between non-drinkers and non-malt liquor drinkers is statistically significant (p < .01). bDifference in prevalence of problem behavior between non-malt liquor and malt liquor drinkers is statistically significant (p < .01).

Logistic RegressionsLogistic Regressions

Odds Ratio (95% confidence interval)

Predictor

Problem Drinking (n = 758)

Illicit Drug Use (n = 1,029)

Problem Behavior (n = 1,029)

Age (< 21) 1.32 (0.82–2.12) 1.01 (0.67– 1.51) 2.03 (1.16–3.56) Gender (male) 2.01 (1.42–2.84) 0.76 (0.56– 1.03) 1.17 (0.78–1.74)

Ethnicitya

Asian 0.34 (0.19–0.60) 1.07 (0.69–1.66) 1.26 (0.74–2.13)

Latino 0.79 (0.52–1.21) 0.92 (0.63–1.35) 0.98 (0.58–1.64)

Other 0.71 (0.39–1.28) 1.21 (0.72–2.02) 1.07 (0.52–2.20)

Parental education 0.98 (0.92–1.06) 1.04 (0.98–1.10) 0.97 (0.90–1.05)

Past-30-day drinking 1.87 (1.68–2.08) 1.38 (1.26–1.51) 1.49 (1.20–1.85) Malt liquor drinkerb 2.87 (2.02–4.09) 14.03 (7.92-24.86) 5.30 (2.71–10.38) Non-malt liquor drinkerb --- 5.77 (3.34–9.95) 2.57 (1.62–4.08)

Model Fit χ2(8) = 399.8* χ2

(9) = 335.5* χ2(9) = 112.0*

aWhites were the referent group. Because of the small number of African-American students who reported any past-year alcohol use, African Americans were included in the “Other” category. bNon-malt liquor drinkers were the referent group for analyses with any problem drinking (AUDIT score 8) as the dependent variable. Non-drinkers were the reference group for analyses with any illicit drug use and any problem behavior as the dependent variables. *p < .001

ConclusionConclusion

A substantial percentage of community A substantial percentage of community college students drink malt liquor.college students drink malt liquor.

It is more prevalent among Caucasian It is more prevalent among Caucasian and Latino students than Asian and and Latino students than Asian and Black students.Black students.

Conclusion Conclusion

Malt liquor use is associated with heavy Malt liquor use is associated with heavy alcohol use, multi-drug use, and problem alcohol use, multi-drug use, and problem behaviors.behaviors.

Malt liquor use was predictive of problem Malt liquor use was predictive of problem drinking, illicit drug use, and problem drinking, illicit drug use, and problem behaviors when background variables and behaviors when background variables and past-30-day drinking were controlled. past-30-day drinking were controlled.

LimitationLimitation

Ethnic minority youngsters attending Ethnic minority youngsters attending community colleges may not be community colleges may not be representative of the general representative of the general youngster in ethnic minority groups. youngster in ethnic minority groups.

Studies with general population Studies with general population samples are needed. samples are needed.

Preparation of this slide presentation is based Preparation of this slide presentation is based on a paper published at Journal of Studies on a paper published at Journal of Studies on Alcohol.on Alcohol.

Chen, M.-J., & Paschall, M.J. (2003). Malt liquor use, heavy/problem drinking, and other problem behaviors in a sample of community college students. Journal of Studies on Alcohol, 64(6), 835-842.