Binge Drinking:

A College Tradition

Binge Drinking

Binge drinking is defined as having 5 or more drinks in a row for males and 4 or more for females.

College campuses are effected the most by binge drinking.

Fraternities and Sororities often promote binge drinking

as fun and exciting.

Numerous campuses have dry fraternities and sororities

to help fight their drinking problems, but many still engage in harmful drinking habits.

Other programs have been implemented around the country to try to curb binge drinking.

binge drinking: National Averages

Alcohol is a factor in 50-60% of student suicides.

Almost 50% of college students binge drink.

binge drinking: More National averages

30% of male college athletes and 25% of female college athletes binge drink 3 or more times in a 2 week period.

Private college binge drinking statistics are higher than the national average.

Are you a problem drinker?

Here are some questions to ask yourself to find out if you or someone you know has a drinking problem.

If you answered yes to one of these questions, that should serve as a warning sign.

If you answered yes to three or more of these questions, then you are using alcohol in a harmful way. You should change your drinking habits or seek professional help.

Here are some T

I

P

S

on how to drink responsibly

Limit the number of drinks that you have in a short period of time

Dilute your drinks

Don’t play drinking games or take shots of hard liquor

Don’t drink without eating first

Alternate alcoholic drinks with non-alcoholic ones

Try not to drink “spiked” punch or other drinks with unknown amounts of alcohol

Don’t mix alcohol and other drugs; it increases the affects of both

Binge Drinking is an epidemic in our country

and it is up to our generation to stop it.

References:

Nelson, T., Wechsler H. (2001). Alcohol and College Athletes. Medicine & Science in Sports & Exercise, 33(1), 43-47.

Youth and Alcohol: Selected reports to the Surgeon General, U.S. Department of Education. (1993) PH334

15 March 2001 <www.montana.edu>

31 May 2001 <www.stmarys-ca.edu>

2000 < www.uvm.edu/~pjunger/college.htm>