Delay discounting predicts increase in blood alcohol level in social drinkers

Variations in delay discounting correspond with variations in alcohol consumption; however, this relationship has not been generalized to social drinkers using objective measures of intoxication. The objective was to assess the generalizability of the delay discounting paradigm to a social setting measuring alcohol use with an alcometer. Forty-six male social drinkers were breathalyzed as they entered a bar to consume alcohol and again as they left. At the first interview, estimates of their hyperbolic delay discount function were taken. Participants who discounted future rewards more heavily also demonstrated a greater increase in alcohol intoxication up to the end of their drinking session. The success for delay discounting to explain variations in alcohol use is extended to social settings.