A study has found that college students at the University of Texas drink more during football games involving their institution than they do during New Year's Eve or the last day of classes, the Associated Press reported on Nov. 23.

The study followed 541 randomly selected students who entered the University of Texas as freshmen in 2004. The students were surveyed about their alcohol use before entering the university, and then daily through the Internet during the 2004 and 2005 seasons.

"It's important for us to know what are the particularly high-risk events for college drinking," said Kim Fromme, a University of Texas psychologist and co-author of the study with Dan J. Neal of Kent State University.

The study found that drinking was heaviest during high-profile games, while games occurring during holiday breaks were exceptions because students were home with their families. Socially-active women drank more when the University of Texas played road games. This drinking occurred at watch parties or sports bars.

"For women, college game-days represent more of a social occasion," said Fromme. "The biggest problem is what other kinds of behavioral risks they engage in when drinking. That includes driving afterwards or going home with a new sexual partner."

Drinking among male students was high for both home and road games, partially because men were more likely to attend tailgating parties for home games.

The study, entitled "Hook 'em Horns and Heavy Drinking: Alcohol Use and Collegiate Sports," appears in the November issue of Addictive Behaviors.