Table of Contents:
Introduction
Why Do College Students Drink?
What Do College Students Drink?
How Often Do College Students Drink?
Drinking When Depressed or Sad
Drinking and Driving Among College Students
Percentage of Female College Students Drinking
Underage Drinking Among College Students
Introduction
According to a study by the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism, about 44% of incoming college students are frequent high-risk drinkers. This means that they consume alcohol at least once a week and often consume more than four drinks per occasion. High-risk drinking can lead to a number of problems, including academic difficulties, health problems, and legal troubles. If you or someone you know is struggling with college drinking, there are resources available to help.
Why Do College Students Drink?
For college students, the first six weeks of their freshman year are the most dangerous for binge drinking. Many of these students succumb to peer pressure and begin drinking as soon as classes begin. Students often think of drinking as part of the “college experience.” They want to fit in and make new friends, so they continue to drink without considering the consequences.

What Do College Students Drink?
College students have begun to consume more hard liquor than beer in the recent few decades. A rising percentage of young individuals are drinking to become drunk rather than socialize. It takes only a few shots to feel the effects of liquor because it has one of the highest alcohol percentages by volume.
OneClass just issued a new poll that discovered something unexpected. Hard liquor, not beer, was the most favored alcoholic beverage among college students.
According to The Beer Connoisseur, these are the most popular beers among students:
Corona Extra
Bud Light
Michelob Ultra
Coors Light
Milwaukee’s Best Ice
Corona Light
Budweiser
How Often Do College Students Drink?
Male students drink more than twice as many beverages as female students, with an average of nine drinks each week. When the number of drinks consumed each week increases, people become at-risk drinkers or those who are most likely to become alcoholics. At-risk women consume seven drinks each week, whereas at-risk men consume fourteen.
Drinking When Depressed or Sad
As college students returned to or started college this fall, parents, college students, and professionals who work with students strive to raise awareness about the important subject of anxiety and depression.
Up to 44% of college students claimed to experience symptoms of despair or anxiety. Tragically, up to 75% of struggling students are unwilling to ask for help. Negative outcomes including dropping out of college, poor academic performance, suicide, and substance abuse are more likely a result.
Drinking and Driving Among College Students
A study was done in 2015 which aimed to look into drinking, driving, and socio-behavioral characteristics among university students in low- and middle-income countries, as well as rising economies. Overall, 17.3% of those surveyed admitted to driving a car or motorcycle after drinking too much.
Percentage of Female College Students Drinking
According to a new Harvard University study, female college students surpass government-recommended weekly alcohol consumption limits more frequently than male students.
60% of men and 64% of women who had at least one drink during the first year said they had gone over the weekly limit at least once.
Underage Drinking Among College Students
52.5 percent of full-time college students aged 18 to 22 said that they drank alcohol in the previous month, according to the 2019 National Survey on Drug Use and Health (NSDUH). College students’ harmful and underage drinking has far more serious, negative, and costly implications than many parents understand. These implications affect kids regardless of whether or not they drink.
Check Your Drinking. Make a Plan to Drink Less. CDC
Drinking too much alcohol can be harmful. Everyone can benefit from drinking less alcohol or not drinking at all. This tool checks your drinking and can give advice. If you want to drink less, it can also help you build a plan to make healthier choices.
Some questions may be sensitive. Any information you provide is for your personal use only. Your information will not be stored or shared.
This tool is for adults 18 years or older. It is not intended for medical diagnosis or treatment.
Check out on CDC website here