Examining Differences in Breath Alcohol Concentration (BrAC) Levels and Hazardous Drinking by Smoking Status among a Sample of College Student Bar Patrons

A study published in the Journal of Community Health, Examining Differences in Breath Alcohol Concentration (BrAC) Levels and Hazardous Drinking by Smoking Status Among a Sample of College Student Bar Patrons, explores the relationship between smoking behaviour and alcohol consumption. 

The study aimed to explore the association with social smoking in an attempt to add to the current understanding of the link to smoking and alcohol consumption. The research took place on campus of a university. 

Participants were asked if they were regular, social or non-smokers and there breath alcohol concentration was measured. The researchers found that those who were smokers had a "significantly" higher hazardous drinking score than social or non-smokers and that "the drinking habits of social smokers reflected those of non-smokers and being a regular smoker was associated with higher drinking levels than the rest of the sample." 

The findings of the study suggest that combining health promotion campaigns or public health interventions to target hazardous drinking and smoking could be an effective way to target student populations. 

The abstract is available for free online and the full-text can be purchased. The study is available in English.