Evaluation of the criterion and predictive validity of the Alcohol Reduction Strategies—Current Confidence (ARS-CC) in a natural drinking environment

To evaluate several psychometric properties of a questionnaire designed to assess young people's self-efficacy to employ 31 alcohol reduction strategies, we assessed breath alcohol concentration, self-reported drinking, current strategy self-efficacy, and recent past use of these strategies in 100 young adults as they walked to and from the local bar district of a Midwestern college town. In support of criterion and predictive validity of the questionnaire, we found that lower self-efficacy at the initial assessment was significantly correlated with higher scores on a screening measure of consumption, with having engaged in more heavy drinking episodes in the past 30 days, and with higher levels of intoxication and use of fewer reduction strategies later that evening. Frequency counts indicate that 10 of the alcohol reduction strategies had been used by at least half of the sample to reduce their drinking earlier that evening.

► ARS-CC questionnaire measures self-efficacy to use 31 drinking reduction strategies.
► Measures administered to 100 young people intending to drink in natural setting.
► Results supported criterion and predictive validity of the ARS-CC.
► Certain strategies were employed more commonly than others.