U.S. flag

An official website of the United States government, Department of Justice.

NCJRS Virtual Library

The Virtual Library houses over 235,000 criminal justice resources, including all known OJP works.
Click here to search the NCJRS Virtual Library

Drinking and University Students: From Celebration to Inebriation

NCJ Number
180900
Journal
Drug and Alcohol Review Volume: 18 Issue: 4 Dated: December 1999 Pages: 389-399
Author(s)
Ann M. Roche; Kerrianne Watt
Date Published
December 1999
Length
11 pages
Annotation
A survey of 209 male and 191 female students attending the 3 major universities in the southeast corner of Queensland, Australia, collected information on the levels and patterns of drinking among university students in Australia.
Abstract
The research used a 30-item survey designed to assess prevalence and patterns of alcohol consumption, associated harms, and students' alcohol-related attitudes. Ninety-four percent of the students drank alcohol. Approximately half the male students and one-fifth of the female students reported drinking to intoxication once or more per week. Fifty-four percent of the students reported the consumption of 5 or more standard drinks on a typical drinking occasion. Overall, 69 percent of the participants reported drinking at hazardous or harmful levels. About one-third of the participants reported experiencing an alcohol-related accident or injury within the last 12 months. Nevertheless, 62 percent of the students did not believe that a reduction in student drinking was necessary. Findings also revealed alcohol-related attitudes and behaviors and identified several groups particularly at risk. Figures, table, and 24 references (Author abstract modified)