Table 3 Intervention effects of included studies

Carr 1992

Frequency of alcohol use

No significant difference was reported between the groups at pre-test (X ² = 5.94, P = 0.20), post-test (X ² = 5.48, P = 0.24) or follow-up (X ² = 5.96, P = 0.20).

Change score

Significant difference between the treatment and control group at follow-up (X ² = 6.42, P < 0.05). In the treatment group, 3.6 % reported decreased use, 89.3 % no change and 7.1 % increased use. In the control group, 21.1 % reported decreased use, 57.9 % no change and 21.1 % increased use.

Kingsland et al. 2015

Risky alcohol consumption

At baseline, 27 % of intervention club and 25 % of control club members reported risky alcohol consumption. Post-intervention, 19 % of intervention club members reported risky alcohol consumption compared to 24 % of control club members (OR = 0.63 95 % CI 0.40–1.00, P = 0.05).

Median total AUDIT score (min, max)

Pre-intervention: control 7 (0, 26), intervention 8 (0, 28); post-intervention: control 7 (0, 25), intervention 6 (0, 26) (P < 0.01).

Total AUDIT score ≥8

Pre-intervention: control 46 %, intervention 54 %; post-intervention: control 45 %, intervention 38 % (OR = 0.58 (95 % CI 0.38–0.87, P < 0.01).

AUDIT alcohol consumption subscale

Pre-intervention: control 57 %, intervention 61 %; post-intervention: control 55 %, intervention 47 % (OR = 0.60 95 % CI 0.41–0.87 P value <0.01).

AUDIT alcohol dependence subscale

Pre-intervention: control 3 %, intervention 4 %; post-intervention: control 4 %, intervention 1 % (OR = 0.20 95 % CI 0.06–0.65 P value <0.01).

Alcohol-related problems subscale

Pre-intervention: control 48 %, intervention 56 %; post-intervention: control 45 %; intervention 41 % (OR = 0.67 95 % CI 0.43–1.03 P value 0.03).

O’ Farrell 2010

Mean total AUDIT score

Post-intervention: control 11.0 (95 % CI 10.4–11.7); intervention 11.0 (95 % CI 10.0–11.4); P = 0.94.

Total AUDIT score ≥8

Post-intervention: control 69.9 % (95 % CI 64.1–76.8), intervention: 72.2 (95 % CI 63.7–80.6); P = 0.66.

AUDIT hazardous alcohol use subscale

Post-intervention: control 95.1 % (95 % CI 92.6–97.6); intervention 95.0 % (95 % CI 91.5–98.6); P = 0.97.

AUDIT dependency subscale

Post-intervention: control 60.5 % (95 % CI 53.2–67.8), intervention 59.7 % (95 % CI 49.2–70.1); P = 0.90.

Harmful alcohol use subscale

Post-intervention: control 68.5 % (95 % CI 63.1–73.8), intervention 74.8 % (95 % CI 67.1–85.6); P = 0.17.

Mean yearly consumption

Post-intervention: control 11.6 L (95 % CI 9.2–14.2), intervention 8.8 L (95 % CI 5.6–12.1); P = 0.17.

≥21 standard drinks per week

Post-intervention: control 28.5 % (95 % CI 21.4–35.7), intervention 20.1 % (95 % CI 10.6–29.5); P = 0.15.

Binge drinking

Post-intervention: control 43.5 % (95 % CI 35.2–51.8), intervention 49.1 % (95 % CI 37.8–60.3); P = 0.42.

Mean alcohol harm score

Post-intervention: control 3.0 (95 % CI 2.5–3.6), intervention 2.5 (95 % CI 1.7–3.3); P = 0.26.