A team of interviewers in front of drinking establishments surveyed individuals about their drinking practices and collected blood alcohol levels (bal) using portable breath testers. Of those tested, 29% were intoxicated (bal greater than or equal to 100 mg/dl) while 49% registered a bal of 50 mg/dl. Individuals reporting that they were going to drive had significantly lower bals than those planning not to drive. Subjects who thought they were legally intoxicated, on average, had bals greater than the legal level of intoxication, and bals significantly greater than those who felt they were not intoxicated. These data suggest that the collection of bal, in combination with self-reported alcohol data is an important component of methodologically sound alcohol field research.
Abstract