Effects of an Alcohol Prevention Program at Large Sporting Events: A 2-Year Follow-up Study Using Pseudopatrons

Introduction: Alcohol related problems at large sporting events is of great concern around the world. In Sweden, this matter has been on the agenda for authorities and key stakeholders, demanding action to be taken. As a result, a research project was initiated in 2015 with the aim at preventing alcohol related problems by reducing alcohol intoxication levels at large sporting events. The multi-component research program consists of community mobilization, training of both security and alcohol serving staff, and improved enforcement. Soccer is the most popular sport in Sweden with the highest number of spectators, and also the highest prevalence of alcohol related problems. Therefore, the alcohol prevention program was first implemented at arenas hosting games within the Swedish Premier Soccer League (SPSL). The purpose of this study is to evaluate the effects of this alcohol prevention program on the security and serving staff’s frequency of intervention rates towards obviously alcohol-intoxicated spectators at SPSL games.

Methods: This is a quasi-experimental control group study using the largest, and second largest city in Sweden as the intervention and control area, respectively. Baseline data was collected in 2015, and the 2-year follow-up is currently being collected and will be completed in November 2017. The setting is soccer arenas, including entrances and licensed premises inside the arenas. The study was conducted using the same procedure as the baseline assessment. Professional actors (i.e. pseudopatrons) were trained to act a standardized scene of obvious intoxication at the licensed premises inside the arenas as well as at the entrances to the arenas. Observers monitored all the attempts. The prevention strategies were initiated during 2016 and are still ongoing.

Results: Results from the baseline study reveal that the rates of denied entry of obviously intoxicated pseudopatrons were low at the entrances (13%), and refusal of alcohol service was 32% at the licensed premises inside the arenas. Preliminary results from the follow-up study indicate that the intervention rates towards obviously intoxicated spectators have improved significantly at the entrances (30%, p<0.05) and at the licensed premises inside the arenas (51%, p<0.001).

Conclusions: The preliminary results demonstrate that the security and serving staff’s intervention rates towards obviously intoxicated spectators at SPSL games have increased, which can probably be explained by the implementation of the multi-component alcohol prevention program.