Kristin Buvik

Factors associated with over-serving at drinking establishments

AIMS To address characteristics of drinking establishments, bartenders and patrons that may affect the likelihood of over-serving. DESIGN A systematic examination of 425 purchase attempts with pseudo-intoxicated patrons enacting scripts that, according to the law, should lead to the denial of alcohol sales. SETTING AND PARTICIPANTS Drinking establishments in the three largest cities in Norway (Trondheim, Bergen and Oslo) were visited by male and female actors aged 20-30 years on weekend nights, with a total of 425 purchase items. MEASUREMENTS Over-serving was recorded when the pseudo-intoxicated patron was served alcohol. Characteristics of the drinking establishment, the bartender and the pseudo-intoxicated patron were recorded systematically. RESULTS Pseudo-intoxicated patrons were served in 347 of 425 purchase attempts (82%). In bivariate analyses, the over-serving rate increased with venue characteristics, music/noise level and intoxication level among patrons. These factors were intercorrelated and correlated with poor lighting. The over-serving rate was also higher when the pseudo-intoxicated patron was female and when the purchase attempt occurred after midnight. In multi-variate analyses, two factors increased the likelihood of over-serving significantly: a high problematic bar indicator score (poor lighting, high music/noise level and high intoxication level among patrons) [adjusted odds ratio (OR) = 3.5, 95% confidence interval (CI) = 1.9, 6.4] and female gender of pseudo-intoxicated patrons (adjusted OR = 2.6, 95% CI = 1.4, 4.7). The rate of over-serving was 95% when both risk factors were present and 67% when both factors were absent. CONCLUSIONS In urban settings in Norway, it is likely that over-serving occurs frequently, and is increased by the risk factors of poor lighting, loud music and high intoxication level among patrons.

“Girls will be served until you have to carry them out”: Gendered serving practices in Oslo

Abstract Research on heavy drinking among women implies that this behaviour is deviant and criticised by society, which would suggest that intoxicated women are more likely than men to be denied alcohol at drinking establishments. However, a recent Norwegian study shows that it is more likely for intoxicated women than intoxicated men to be served alcohol. This article explores gender differences and overserving within licensed establishments. The data consist of qualitative interviews with bartenders and pseudo-patrons. The latter were actors who were seemingly intoxicated while attempting to purchase alcohol at drinking establishments. Our analysis suggests that there are three main reasons why alcohol is served to intoxicated women. First, female patrons are profitable for drinking establishments because their presence causes male patrons to remain at the venue and spend more money. Second, female patrons are regarded as being sexually available to other patrons and staff in the barroom, which is a heavily sexually charged scene. Third, female patrons are considered harmless and their presence even dampens male aggression. In contrast to these explanations, there is some concern for the safety of intoxicated women. The night-time economy in Oslo seems to combine a strictly gendered perception of male and female patrons with a new acceptance of female binge drinking. The overserving of female patrons can be regarded as a consequence of the combination of these two seemingly contradictory tendencies.

Street-level alcohol policy: Assessing intoxication at drinking venues in Oslo

Aim: This article examines liquor inspectors’ assessment of intoxication at drinking establishments in Norway. It draws upon Lipskys theory of street-level bureaucrats (1980) to study a situation where laws and informal norms seem to pull in opposite directions. Methods: We conducted 26 ethnographic observations of liquor inspectors’ visits to drinking venues in Oslo, as well as qualitative interviews and field conversations with liquor inspectors. Findings: The study reveals that inspectors interpret the Norwegian Alcohol Act in four main ways that lead to lenient enforcement of the law. (1) Inspectors translate the wording of the Act into their everyday language. (2) They use significant discretion when assessing a patrons intoxication level. (3) The inspectors identify with patrons. (4) They find it hard to spot deviance when everyone is drunk. Conclusions: Research on alcohol policy usually focuses on the national level. Decisions made at the ‘street level’, however, might also lead to over-serving, alcohol-related harm and violence. The street-level alcohol policy allows a level of intoxication far above that allowed by the law. In this way, the inspectors support and maintain a liberal drinking culture.