A Mixed Methods Study of Drinking Behavior at an LGBTQIA+ Pride Festival

Abstract

Sexual and gender minoritized (SGM) populations experience elevated rates of alcohol-related harm, often attributed to minority stress and social norms. However, less is known about how alcohol-related processes vary based on specific cultural event-level contexts. LGBTQIA+ Pride festivals (“Pride”) represent environments where alcohol use is highly visible, raising the possibility that they may function as high-risk drinking events (HRDEs). This mixed methods study examined alcohol use during Pride using on-site and follow-up surveys (N = 145) and qualitative interviews (n = 18). Participants reported significantly higher perceived drinking norms during Pride compared to a typical weekend. However, these norms were not associated with quantity of alcohol consumed during Pride. Instead, typical drinking patterns emerged as the only consistent predictor, and no evidence was found for moderation by minority stress. Qualitative findings indicated that while Pride is widely perceived as a drinking-oriented environment, participants more often described drinking as motivated by celebration and social facilitation rather than coping with identity-related stress. Participants also discussed factors that made “the LGBTQIA+ community” a more or less salient reference group for their own personal behavior, and discussed potential interventions to reduce alcohol-related harms at Pride. Implications for future research and for practical intervention are discussed.