Alcohol Use Among Fraternity and Sorority Members: Looking at Change Over Time

• NCJ Number: 205246
• Journal: Journal of Alcohol and Drug Education Volume: 47 Issue: 3 Dated: March 2004 Pages: 51-66
• Author(s): Sandra L. Caron Ph.D.; Eilean G. Moskey M.S.; Cindy A. Hovey B.S.
• Date Published: March 2004
• Length: 16 pages
• Publication Format: Article
• Publication Type: Survey
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America

Annotation

This study examined alcohol use and its consequences among fraternity and sorority members at a large, northeastern land grant university at a time in 1994 and a time in 2000.

Abstract

A questionnaire was distributed to 559 members of fraternities and sororities at the end of the spring 1994 semester; 303 responded (142 fraternity members and 161 sorority members). The same questionnaire was distributed at the end of the spring 2000 semester; 205 responded out of 602 (89 fraternity members and 116 sorority members). The questionnaire included 3 questions about respondents' sex, age, and year in school, followed by 12 questions related to alcohol use and 17 questions that focused on consequences associated with alcohol use. The findings for both the 1994 and 2000 samples show that the majority of the respondents drink in high school, and most have increased their drinking since coming to college. The majority of the students reported that they go out drinking two or more times a week and typically consume at least four or more drinks in an evening. This pattern of drinking would qualify the majority of students in both samples as binge drinkers. Compared to the 1994 sample, however, fewer students in 2000 reported that they drank in high school, felt pressured to drink, went out to drink three or more times a week, drank more than six drinks in an evening, used a fake identification, allowed a friend to drive while intoxicated, drove a car when they had too much to drink, had been arrested for drinking and driving, missed a class due to alcohol, damaged property, got into a fight or became aggressive, did something they later regretted, or had sex with someone while under the influence of alcohol they would not have had if sober. Overall, the fraternity and sorority members who responded to the 2000 survey were apparently a much more responsible group than the 1994 group in terms of their alcohol use, and they experienced fewer alcohol-related consequences. This change may be due to the alcohol educational efforts that have targeted members of fraternities and sororities. 2 tables and 14 references