Drinking and driving and riding with an alcohol impaired driver among United States Air Force recruits.

OBJECTIVE

To identify the prevalence and correlates of binge drinking, driving after drinking, and riding in a vehicle with a driver who had consumed alcohol in US Air Force active duty recruits.

METHODS

A military cohort (N = 31,108; 25.1% female) was analyzed to identify variables associated with binge drinking, drinking and driving, and riding with a driver who had consumed alcohol.

RESULTS

Results indicated that 53 percent (including 45% of those under the legal drinking age) reported alcohol use in the month prior to entering basic military training (BMT). Thirty-eight percent of all active duty recruits reported binge drinking (ie, consuming 5 or more drinks on a single occasion) at least one time in the past 30 days. Nearly 1 in 4 (23%) reported 1 to 3 episodes of binge drinking. Three percent of reported alcohol users drove after consuming five or more drinks, and 9 percent rode as a passenger in a vehicle with a driver who had been drinking heavily.

CONCLUSIONS

Several demographic, behavioral, and attitudinal correlates of risky drinking patterns were identified. Prevention efforts are needed to address the implications of these findings because they influence the health, safety, and military readiness of active duty personnel.