Campus binge drinking reflects national trend

A just-released study has found that binge drinking at UW–Madison is increasing, reflecting a nationwide trend on college campuses.

The 1999 College Alcohol Study, which compares 1999 and 1998 data, was conducted by Henry Wechsler and colleagues at the Harvard School of Public Health. The study found continued high rates of binge drinking and the associated negative consequences. UW–Madison has been included in the research since Wechsler did his first national study in 1993. Portions of the study are included at the end of this release.


Binge drinking is defined as five drinks or more in a row for men and four drinks or more in a row for women. Following is a summary of the findings for UW–Madison from the 1999 College Alcohol Study, Harvard School of Public Health.
Percentage considered “bingers”	1998: 54.6 percent 1999: 67.4 percent
Frequent binge drinker (three or more times in the two weeks prior to the survey)	1998: 29.8 percent 1999: 42.9 percent
Occasional binge drinker (one to two times in the two weeks prior to the survey)	1998: 24.8 percent 1999: 24.5 percent
Non-binge drinker	1998: 35.3 percent 1999: 24.7 percent
Abstainer	1998: 10.1 percent 1999: 7.9 percent
Related resources: Full text of College Alcohol Study Release from Harvard School of Public Health RWJ Project Web site

Binge drinking is defined as five drinks or more in a row for men and four drinks or more in a row for women.

The university and surrounding communities are working to change the culture that supports high-risk drinking. The RWJ Project, a broad coalition funded by the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation and administered by the AMA, is in its third year of implementation. Current strategies include offering attractive alternatives to drinking, such as:

More late-night choices: Last year’s popular SERF After Hours – extended Thursday night hours at a university recreational facility – has been expanded to include the Natatorium. A mini-grant program provides funding for student organizations that offer alcohol-free or low-alcohol late-night programming. The project also helps promote preexisting, late-night alcohol-free activities, such as social events at the Wisconsin Union buildings.
Working with the Union and the University of Wisconsin Foundation to substantially increase the quality and frequency of entertainment at Union South through Club 770, which presents popular music, booked by and for students.
The coalition has recently been more active on policy issues: backing a keg registration bill, getting involved in campus liquor license issues and examining reducing drink specials at bars in the campus neighborhood.
Project organizers have continued to forge collaborations between the campus and the community, meeting with groups such as the Tavern League, campus-area property owners and area high schools to identify common issues and discuss roles in changing the culture that supports high-risk drinking.

The study found that the percentage of students who experienced negative effects due to their own drinking increased, generally, compared to last year’s data. The effects include hangovers, missed classes, unplanned sexual activities, damaging property and sustaining injuries.

The percentage of students experiencing problems due to other student’s drinking – negative secondary effects – held steady, more or less, with some categories increasing and some decreasing. But, says Carol Lobes, project director, “These numbers are why we do the work. Of course we’re concerned about individuals harming themselves, but when student drinking creates a hostile, dangerous campus environment for so many students – we urgently need to address the issue.”

The 1999 numbers for UW–Madison show that 16 percent of students have been pushed, hit or insulted; 23.4 percent have suffered property damage; and 34.4 percent have experienced unwanted sexual advances due to binge drinking.

Following is a summary of the study results for UW–Madison. (Please note: Some of the changes reported here may not be statistically significant.) Complete reports of national and local data are available upon request.

UW–Madison college student patterns of alcohol use:

Abstainer (during the past year) – 1998: 10.1 percent; 1999: 7.9 percent
Non-binge drinker – 1998: 35.3 percent; 1999: 24.7 percent
Occasional binge drinker (one to two times in the two weeks prior to the survey) – 1998: 24.8 percent; 1999: 24.5 percent
Frequent binge drinker (three or more times in the two weeks prior to the survey) – 1998: 29.8 percent; 1999: 42.9 percent
Percentage considered “bingers” – 1998: 54.6 percent; 1999: 67.4 percent