The influence of time, gender and group size on heavy drinking in public bars.

Four hypotheses are tested focusing on the small group basis of legal intoxication. A sample of 1,996 isolates and groups gathering to drink at a 12% random sample of 565 bars in a two-county metropolitan area was observed using a stratified random time sampling schedule. Multiple regression was used to test the hypotheses. The hypothesis that group size affects proportion of group drinking heavily during one visit to a bar was not supported. Average group alcohol consumption, group gender composition and average duration of group stay in bar do affect proportion of group drinking heavily.