Yahoo Lifestyle 
The problem with drinking buddies
Going to the pub with a few friends is a nice way to unwind but according to new research, the more drinking buddies you have the more likely you are to drink.
A study published in the scientific journal Addiction revealed that individual alcohol consumption tends to increase with the number of friends in the group. And the correlation is stronger in men than women.
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Researchers in Switzerland used internet-based questionnaires that 200 study participants (all young adults) filled out in real time. While the cohort were out drinking they had to completely hourly questions about how many friends were present and the number of drinks they consumed. As the number of friends increased, so did the number of drinks.
It’s no revelation that young people can succumb to peer pressure when they’ve got a few mates around, and past research has revealed that the presence of others has an effect on drinking behaviour. However, most previous research has been completed in laboratory sessions, which can be inaccurate.
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Other findings included that drinking pace increased notably on Saturday nights and men consumed more alcohol than women, particularly at the beginning of the evening. However, the impact of friends on drinking was similar for both men and women.
While it may seem an impossible task to get young people to curb their drinking at get-togethers, the findings may be useful when it comes to messaging around excessive alcohol consumption.
