Sex and the risk of HIV infection: the role of alcohol

Abstract

To investigate sexual behaviour under the influence of alcohol and the relationship between drinking habits and unsafe sex we carried out a postal and interview survey of 2174 students in the North East of England. Drinking habits were classified as non, light, medium and heavy, and cross-tabulated against sexual and other risk taking behaviour. Response rates of 74% and 77% were obtained in the postal and interview surveys respectively. In the postal survey, heavier drinkers were more likely to have unsafe sex such as casual sex without a condom, and sex with someone know to have many partners. Respondents associated alcohol with sexual risk taking; because of drinking too much, in the last year, 19% had not taken contraceptive precautions during sex. The interview survey largely confirmed postal survey results. There are three possible explanations of the association between drinking habits and unsafe sex: alcohol might disinhibit safer sex; young risk-takers may also drink more; or, drinking might be associated with unsafe sex by coincidence because sexual encounters often begin in licensed premises. Drinking habits should therefore be a priority issue for future HIV/AIDS related research, policy debate, and health education endeavour.