To date, no study has examined whether ASQ scores predict responses to alcohol challenge, an essential component of the measure’s construct validity. Further, the ASQ has not been compared directly with the SRE to determine its performance relative to this better-known measure. This was the purpose of the current study, for which three primary hypotheses were advanced. First, consistent with the modified differentiator model (King et al., 2011), we predicted that higher ASQ scores would be associated with increased feelings of stimulation following alcohol consumption. Given that the ASQ contains items specifically tapping stimulation-related effects, which are largely unassessed by the SRE, we predicted that a model based on ASQ lighter-drinking items would be preferred (in terms of model fit) over an SRE-based model of these effects. Second, we predicted that higher ASQ scores would predict reduced feelings of sedation post-consumption. Further, because the ASQ assesses a broader range of sedating effects, we predicted that a model based on ASQ heavy-drinking items would be preferred over an SRE-based model in predicting sedation. Finally, we predicted that higher scores on the ASQ and SRE would be associated with decreased feelings of subjective intoxication.
