Environmental correlates of underage alcohol use and related problems of college students

Background: Underage alcohol use is a major contributor to morbidity and mo rtality in adolescents and young adults. This study examined drinking level s and ensuing problems among college students and factors associated with b inge drinking. Method: The Harvard School of Public Health College Alcohol Study conducted a self-administered survey. The participants include a random sample of 70 61 students aged <21 years (defined as underage drinkers), and 4989 between ages 21 and 23 in 1997 at 116 nationally representative 4-year colleges in 39 states. The outcomes of the study include self-reports of alcohol use, binge drinking (defined as five or more dr-inks in a row for men and four o r more for women at least once in a 2-week period), alcohol-related problem s, preferred type of drink, access to alcohol, and price paid per drink. Results: Underage students drink less often but have more drinks per occasi on, are more likely to drink in private settings (off-campus, dormitory, an d fraternity parties), and pay less per drink than do of-age students. Corr elates of underage binge drinking include residence in a fraternity or soro rity (odds ratio [OR]=6.2), very easy access to alcohol (OR=3.3), obtaining drinks at lower prices (OR=2.1, for under $1 each or a set fee for unlimit ed drinks), and drinking beer (OR=9.5). Conclusions: Effective controls on price, access, and fraternity and off-ca mpus parties, and reinforcing minimum drinking age laws are needed to reduc e the high levels of binge drinking and related health and behavioral probl ems of underage students. (C) 2000 American Journal of Preventive Medicine.