Citation

Smith RC, Bowdring MA, Geller ES. J. Am. Coll. Health 2014; 63(2): 134-142.

Affiliation

a Virginia Tech Transportation Institute , Blacksburg , Virginia.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2014, Informa - Taylor and Francis Group)

DOI

10.1080/07448481.2014.990968

PMID

25437018

Abstract

OBJECTIVE. The determinants of alcohol consumption among university students were investigated in a downtown field setting with blood alcohol content (BAC) as the dependent variable. Participants. In total, 521 participants completed a brief survey and had their BAC assessed during April 2013.

METHODS. Between 10:00pm and 2:00am, teams of researchers recruited passersby at three heavy-drinking locations near a university campus. Before the BAC assessment, participants completed a questionnaire regarding their drinking intentions, drinking group, and social anxiety.

RESULTS. The average BAC of drinking students was 0.107 g/dL, which was 0.033 g/dL higher than their intended BAC. Males and members of a Greek-life organization consumed significantly more alcohol than their demographic counterparts. A significant positive curvilinear relationship was observed between social anxiety and BAC.

CONCLUSIONS. University students achieve high levels of intoxication, often exceeding their intended BAC. Social anxiety may be an informative predictor of alcohol consumption in this setting.

Language: en