JACKSONVILLE, Fla.—A brief beverage-tailored intervention reduced malt liquor use for adolescent drinkers, according to a University of Florida researcher. Dr. Chad Werch of the College of Health and Human Performance was the lead author on a paper reporting these findings published in the Journal of Studies on Alcohol.

The study provided participants with customized prevention materials targeted at specific drinks, such as malt liquor, wine, flavored coolers, distilled spirits and fortified wine. This educational information addressed the alcohol content of each beverage, as well as the varying size of standard drinks, risks posed by each beverage, and commonly held, but inaccurate outcome expectancies of each drink.

“This is the first study of a brief intervention to show reductions in malt liquor consumption among adolescents,” Werch said. “This study is just the first step in examining the potential effectiveness of tailoring brief, preventive interventions to specific high-risk alcohol beverages used by older adolescents at-risk for experiencing alcohol and drug harm.”

Study findings indicated adolescents receiving the unique, beverage-tailored intervention significantly reduced their malt liquor use, as reported by the participants. This is an important finding because young people tend to underestimate the alcohol content of malt beverages, which can lead to greater risk for alcohol harm, Werch said.

The research involved 232 high school adolescents, ages 17-18, who said they drank within the last year. Participants were assigned randomly to either the experimental intervention or a control group. The experimental intervention included brief consultations and print materials. The control group received generic brochure about alcohol prevention and risks. Researchers followed up with all participants four months later.

While the program did not address cigarettes and marijuana, decreases in the use of these two substances were seen among those already using drugs.

Werch directs the newly established Addictive & Health Behaviors Research Institute, which is part of the Department of Health Education and Behavior. Located in Jacksonville, Fla., the institute’s mission is to conduct national and international research examining the etiology, prevention and mitigation of addictive and related health behaviors.

Werch is a past president of the American Academy of Health Behavior, and holds visiting scientist/professorships at Mayo Clinic and Oxford Brooks University, UK.

This research was supported by a grant from the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism.

Contact: Dr. Chad Werch, Professor & Director, Addictive & Health Behaviors Research Institute, Department of Health Education & Behavior, University of Florida, (904) 281-0726, Fax: (904) 296-1153, cwerch@hhp.ufl.edu