Defining Irresponsible Drinking Behaviors: An Exploratory Study Using the Viewpoint of Five Diverse Groups

The purpose of this study was to assess the viewpoints of five different groups of individuals, university students, law enforcement officers, bartenders, beer distributor employees, and health educators regarding the level of irresponsibility perceived to be associated with specific alcohol-related behaviors. These groups provided a variable clustering of perspectives regarding the perceived irresponsibility of several drinking-related behaviors, with one-fourth of the behaviors listed on a written questionnaire identified by at least 90% of each group as somewhat or definitely irresponsible. Of interest were similarities and differences among the groups which related to underage drinking, situation-specific intoxication, polydrug use, and purposes of drinking, as well as those areas in which health educators and university students differed in their perceptions about irresponsibility.