The impact of pregaming on subsequent blood alcohol concentrations: An event-level analysis

• We investigated the impact of pregaming on objective measures of BrAC levels.
• Pregamers exhibited significantly higher BrAC levels than non-pregamers.
• AUDIT-C scores significantly predicted pregaming status.
• Neither college-status, age, sex or ethnicity significantly impacted pregaming.

Pregaming has been highlighted as an especially deleterious college drinking ritual. The present study assessed (a) event-level associations between pregaming and biologic samples of blood alcohol concentration (BrAC) and (b) the impact of one's alcohol-related behaviors (measured by AUDIT-C scores) on the likelihood that respondents would report pregaming prior to a night out drinking. The sample included adult (n = 1029; collegiate and non-college-affiliated) bar patrons in a southeastern college community. Multiple and linear regressions were conducted to determine the association between pregaming and BrAC levels, and pregaming and the presence of an alcohol use disorder, respectively. After controlling for the influence of time of data collection, gender, age, college student status, and ethnicity, the linear regression model explained 15.5% (R2 = .155) of the variance in BrAC levels (F (10, 915) = 16.838, p < 0.001), of which 10.8% was accounted for by self-reported pregaming alone. Furthermore, pregamers exhibited significantly higher BrACs compared to non-pregamers (β = .332, p < .001). Logistic regression analyses indicated that AUDIT-C scores were the only significant predictor of pregaming status (OR = 1.305, Wald = 64.843), such that respondents with higher AUDIT-C scores (B = 0.266) were more likely to pregame. This event-level study highlights the practice of pregaming as an insidious behavior associated with enhanced levels of drinking behavior and overall intoxication.