Study Shows More Than Two-Thirds of College Students Who Celebrated Their 21st Birthday with Alcohol Drank More Than Anticipated
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May 21, 2010
The majority of college students who planned to drink to celebrate their 21st birthday ended up drinking more than they anticipated, according to a study of 150 college students attending one southwestern university. More than two-thirds (68 percent) of celebrants consumed more drinks than they had anticipated. Those who underestimated their celebratory consumption anticipated drinking an average of 7 drinks but actually consumed 12 drinks. The study found that students who consumed more drinks than anticipated were more likely to drink faster and drink more shots than students who were accurate in their estimated number of drinks or drank less than anticipated. More than half (55 percent) of celebrants in this study reported drinking free shots in bars. In addition, students who drank more than anticipated were more likely to engage in 21st birthday drinking traditions (e.g., drinking 21 shots, drinking at midnight) and to have more influential peers present who encouraged drinking. Overall, 61 percent of all those who drank to celebrate had one or more influential peers present and 60 percent engaged in one or more 21st birthday drinking traditions.
The article contains data from Brister, H. A.; Wetherill, R. R.; and Fromme, K. “Anticipated Versus Actual Alcohol Consumption During 21st Birthday Celebrations.” Journal of Studies of Alcohol and Drugs 71(2): 180–183, 2010.
More information can be viewed at http://www.cesar.umd.edu/cesar/cesarfax/vol19/19-14.pdf.