Erskine–Shaw M, et al. – The main purpose of the present study was to assess the effect of alcohol consumption and groups on individual risk–taking. The outcomes did not support a combined effect of alcohol and groups on individual risk–taking. Risk–taking behaviour was influenced by peer presence regardless of alcohol consumption. Targeting the influence of groups (above those of alcohol) could hold promise for decreasing risk–taking behaviours in drinking environments.

Methods

• For the purpose of this study, ninety-nine social drinkers (62 female) attended an experimental session individually (N = 48) or in groups of 3 (N = 51) in a mixed design.
• People finished the examination in isolation while groups were tested in the same room.
• Members finished 2 behavioural measures of risk-taking: Balloon Analogue Risk Task (BART) and Stoplight Task (SLT), both before and following consumption of an alcoholic (0.6 g/kg males, 0.5 g/kg females) or a placebo beverage.

Results

• It was observed in the findings that those who participated in groups took significantly more risks in both tasks than those in isolation.
• It was noted that alcohol did not increase risk-taking on either risk-taking tasks.
• Findings revealed that those who consumed placebo were significantly less risky on the SLT, compared to baseline.
• The authors did not find interactions between context and beverage on risk-taking.