How has binge drinking affected college life?
Social drinking of alcohol during college life has been the norm for over 50 years. In the late 1960’s beer and alcohol vendors were allowed on college campuses to offer students a free drink after the regular class day. With more time on their hands and often away from home, students may feel less responsibility in college. College binge drinking has become rampant over the last 30 years and a part of college culture. The Harvard School of Public Health 1999 college alcohol study reports that 44% of all college students are self-reported binge drinkers, and one in four college students are self-reported frequent binge drinkers, having binge drank 2-5 times a week. If the average drink is 6 ounces then in one night a person can drink nearly a large gas station cup filled with alcohol. Binge drinking is defined as “the …show more content…
Some of the self-reported problems include the following: missing a class, getting behind in schoolwork, doing something they regret, forgetting where they were or what happened, arguing with friends, engaging in unplanned sexual activity, not using protection during sex, damaging property, getting into trouble with campus or local police, requiring medical attention, and driving after drinking alcohol. Of all the problems listed here, 48% of frequent binge drinkers self-report that they have 5 or more of these alcohol related problems. (Wechsler, H., Lee, J. E., Kuo, M., & Lee, H. (2000). 48(5), 207.). These alcohol related problems are certainly an interruption to a successful college life for the student. Not only do they affect themselves, they impact non-binge drinkers. This is known as a secondhand effect. A non-binge drinking student on a high binge campus is 3 times more likely to report a second hand effect, which includes assault, being awakened or kept from studying by a binge
Social drinking of alcohol during college life has been the norm for over 50 years. In the late 1960’s beer and alcohol vendors were allowed on college campuses to offer students a free drink after the regular class day. With more time on their hands and often away from home, students may feel less responsibility in college. College binge drinking has become rampant over the last 30 years and a part of college culture. The Harvard School of Public Health 1999 college alcohol study reports that 44% of all college students are self-reported binge drinkers, and one in four college students are self-reported frequent binge drinkers, having binge drank 2-5 times a week. If the average drink is 6 ounces then in one night a person can drink nearly a large gas station cup filled with alcohol. Binge drinking is defined as “the …show more content…
Some of the self-reported problems include the following: missing a class, getting behind in schoolwork, doing something they regret, forgetting where they were or what happened, arguing with friends, engaging in unplanned sexual activity, not using protection during sex, damaging property, getting into trouble with campus or local police, requiring medical attention, and driving after drinking alcohol. Of all the problems listed here, 48% of frequent binge drinkers self-report that they have 5 or more of these alcohol related problems. (Wechsler, H., Lee, J. E., Kuo, M., & Lee, H. (2000). 48(5), 207.). These alcohol related problems are certainly an interruption to a successful college life for the student. Not only do they affect themselves, they impact non-binge drinkers. This is known as a secondhand effect. A non-binge drinking student on a high binge campus is 3 times more likely to report a second hand effect, which includes assault, being awakened or kept from studying by a binge