"Pre-gaming" leads to riskier behavior and more alcohol consumption, groundbreaking study finds

A Swiss study has found that “pre-drinking,” “pre-funking,” “pre-gaming”—basically, the ritual among college-age young adults of drinking before you go out to drink, leads to “excessive consumption and adverse consequences.”

Pre-gaming didn’t have a name when I was their age; it’s interesting how the phenomenon (is it even a phenomenon?) has become a media meme this year. This NYT story is another example.

I realize the newly-released study provides citeable evidence about a behavior with dangerous consequences, but the results are kind of like, yo, thanks, Captain Obvious.

“Increased drinking was associated with a greater likelihood of blackouts, hangovers, absences from work or school or alcohol poisoning. Pre-drinkers were also found to engage more often in unintended drug use, unsafe sex, drunken driving or violent behavior.”

Sounds about right. More in the LA Times.