Most College Students Aware of Binge DrinkingSeptember 11, 2000
Research Summary
A new report found that most college students are aware of what binge drinking is and how much of it goes on at their college campus, Reuters reported Sept. 7.Harvard University School of Public Health researchers polled 14,138 students at 119 U.S. colleges in 40 states last year and found that most of the students had an accurate perception of the levels of drinking at their schools. "And they have a pretty good idea of the percentage of their fellow students who are binge drinkers," said Henry Wechsler, who led the research team.
Researchers said the study's results could have important implications for the "social norms" approach to reducing excessive drinking. The approach assumes that students base their drinking on their perception of the campus drinking norm. Backers say students overestimate that norm, causing them to drink more.
Some researchers say that alcohol consumption would decline if students were provided with accurate information about the campus drinking rate. But the latest study suggests, "While that may work for the 13 percent of students who said they were binge drinkers, it probably won't work for the 87 percent who aren't," Wechsler said. In fact, he added, a social norms approach could result in college students consuming more alcohol.
The study also found that Northeast and Midwestern schools have a higher percentage of binge drinkers than those in the South or West. "People speculate it's because of the weather. In the colder climates one is forced to spend more time confined inside," noted Wechsler.
The study is published in the September issue of the Journal of American College Health.
COMMENTS ON THIS ARTICLE: