THE EFFECTS OF LOW ALCOHOL BEVERAGES ON ALCOHOL-CONSUMPTION AND IMPAIRMENT

We examined the effects of providing drinks with half the alcohol leve l on alcohol consumption and blood alcohol concentration (BAC) of 4 pa trons of a private club. Alcohol consumption was measured by observers and level of impairment was determined from breath samples obtained b y digitalized ALERT (Alcohol Level Evaluation Road Tester) breath test ing devices. An alternating treatments design was employed to compare the sessions during which people drank mixed drinks with their usual a lcohol concentration with sessions during which they drank mixed drink s with half the alcohol concentration that cost half as much as the re gular drinks. All 4 participants consumed less alcohol during sessions when they received drinks with the lower alcohol content. BAC was als o less on all but two sessions during the low alcohol condition.