"Method: Participants (N = 88, females = 61.5%, mean age = 21.05 years) were randomly assigned to a control group or [a] Computerized Brief Intervention (CBI) ...to motivate participants to change their drinking behavior. ... At baseline and a three-month follow-up, the participants completed a battery of measures of alcohol consumption and related problems." "Results: At baseline, the participants were confirmed to be heavy drinkers with many drink-related negative consequences. ... During follow-up, males’ alcohol use was [lower in the treatment groups compared to the control group]. The females in all three groups reduced their alcohol use, but there were no significant group differences."

"Accordingly, 90 participants were recruited from students at Bangor University through an offer of either course credit (one hour of research credit for each hour that they participated) or a modest cash payment of GBP 10. The inclusion criteria were that men should drink more than 21 units of alcohol per week or 8 or more units on one occasion at least weekly, and women should drink more than 14 units per week or 6 or more units on one occasion at least weekly. Each UK unit of alcohol represents 10 mL or 8 g of pure alcohol. The participants were randomly assigned to one of the three groups: Computerized Brief Intervention (CBI), Computerized Brief Intervention-Enhanced (CBI-E), or the Control group. The final sample who completed the first session included 88 students, 54 (61.5%) of whom were female, and their mean age was 21.05 years (SD = 4.42). Seventy-five participants completed the follow-up session; 60% of them were female."

"The participants [in the treatment groups] were introduced to the Computerized Brief Intervention (CBI) as a computer-assisted interview during which they would receive personalized and objective feedback about their drinking. The CBI aimed to motivate participants to change their current use of alcohol through the use of the following components: First, participants were given objective feedback about their drinking. Second, the discrepancy between participants’ current drinking and their drinking goal was highlighted. Third, participants were asked to consider the implications of not changing their current level of alcohol use. The CBI achieved these objectives in approximately 30 min through the use of 12 computer screens."

"For males, after a steady reduction in drinking during the first three weeks after being included in the study, the weekly consumption of each of the groups stabilized. Individuals in the CBI group[s] drank less alcohol than the [control] group." "For females, however, the post-intervention pattern of drinking was quite different. First, the female participants in all three groups considerably reduced their consumption just after they completed the baseline assessment. Second, the reductions were maintained throughout the 12 weeks of follow-up. Third, the differences in consumption among the three groups were less distinct than for the males."