High-risk drinking among college students is related to the types of parties they attend, according to a recent web survey of undergraduate students attending two large urban universities.

Of students attending one or more parties during the previous extended weekend (Thursday, Friday, and Saturday), 10% reported getting drunk on all three days (a measure of high-risk drinking).

The percentage of students getting drunk on all three days, however, varied depending on several party characteristics.

For example, students who attended a party where alcohol was available were more likely to report getting drunk on all three days than those attending parties where alcohol was not available (10.5% vs. 0.5%). Likewise, students who went to a party where beer was provided in kegs were more likely to report three-day drunkenness (14.5% vs. 6.8%), as were those who attended a party where they did not know the host (13.5% vs. 8.6%).

Other party factors related to being drunk on all three days included the size of the party (larger parties), the location of the party (tailgating, fraternity house, off-campus near the university), and the number of friends the student attended the party with (larger number of friends).

The authors conclude that the identification of these high-risk drinking party characteristics provides "important information needed for the development of both primary and secondary environmental prevention interventions."

For details, including data charts, source information and caveats, download the PDF.

Reprinted from CESAR Fax, a weekly, one-page overview of timely substance abuse trends or issues, from the Center for Substance Abuse Research (CESAR) at the University of Maryland.