THE DRINKING PATTERNS AND PROBLEMS OF A NATIONAL SAMPLE OF COLLEGE-STUDENTS, 1994

Over 12,000 university students from every state were administered the Student Alcohol Questionnaire during the 1993-1994 academic year. Of all students 72.0% consumed alcohol at least once a year and 20.6% wer e heavy drinkers (consuming 5 or more drinks per occasion once a week or more). A mean of 9.6 drinks per week was consumed by all students i n the sample, 31% of males consumed over 21 drinks per week and 19.2% of females consumed over 14 drinks a week. Of the drinkers, 28.4% were heavy and 71.6% were light to moderate drinkers and they consumed a m ean of 10.9 drinks per week. A significantly higher proportion of men, whites, under 21 years old, Roman Catholics, individuals to whom reli gion was not important, individuals with low grade point averages, fra ternity/sorority members, students attending college in the North East part of the United States, in small communities, private schools and colleges under 10,000 students exhibited heavier drinking and a higher incidence of problems related to drinking. These results are similar to other studies which have been accomplished over the past two decade s. The results do not support dramatic changes in the demography of he avier drinkers within most demographic categories. It was concluded th at demographic variables need to be taken into consideration when plan ning campus educational and prevention programs. In times of limited b udgets, the primary target needs to be these high risk students.