Don't Drink Alone: Group Drinking Reduces Risky Behavior

Drinking alone can be more dangerous than you might have thought. Researchers have found that individuals who have consumed moderate amounts of alcohol in social situations are likely to view risky situations with great caution if they're part of a group.

The scientists wanted to see whether drinking in a group or drinking alone could influence a person's behavior and whether or not they would partake in risky situations. In order to find out, they asked students who were drinking in bars and at a music festival to decide what levels of risk they thought were acceptable before recommending someone should take various actions. In all, 101 participants aged 18 to 30 who were in groups were approached to take part.

First, the participants gave their private judgments about how much risk they would accept before recommending a potentially risky action-for example, whether it would be acceptable to drive to collect a friend from an airport after drinking. Then, they rejoined the group and discussed a second problem; this time, the group as a whole had to decide.

"When intoxicated, it is known that people are more likely to engage in risky behavior, including the use of illicit drugs, engaging in violent and other criminal activity and driving at dangerous speeds," said Tim Hopthrow, one of the researchers, in a news release. "Our findings confirmed that individual risk decisions are increased by higher alcohol consumption."

The findings reveal that even in natural settings, social interactions can reduce risky behaviors in people who have been drinking in moderation. While alcohol consumers accept more risk when drinking alone, as a group they accept less. This means that drinking in a social situation may be far less dangerous than drinking alone.

"Rather than seeing groups as part of the problem, we need to see them as part of the solution," said Rose Meleady, one of the researchers, in a news release. "Groups over-compensate for alcohol consumption in the face of risk. When drinking moderately, there may be safety in numbers."

The findings are published in the journal Addiction.