Alcohol Statistics
On this page: How much do UNCW students drink? How often? What are the risks? What about drinking and driving? And Resources. These statistics are from our Fall 2010 Substance Use survey, completed online by a random representative sample of 380 students. Extensive data and more information can be obtained by contacting CROSSROADS at 962-4136.
How much?
- 85.31% of students have drank alcohol in the last year.
How many drinks do you have on average when you go out/party/socialize with other students?
- 0 drinks: 21.96%
- 1-2 drinks: 16.93%
- 3 drinks: 12.70%
- 4 drinks: 15.08%
- 5 drinks: 8.99%
- Total who have 0-5 drinks: 75.66%
- 6-7 drinks: 15.34%
- 8-9 drinks: 6.88%
- 10-14 drinks: 1.59%
- 15 or more: .53%
How many drinks do you consume on average in a week?
- 0 drinks: 36.41%
- 1-3 drinks: 21.37%
- 4-6 drinks: 15.57%
- Total who have 0-6 drinks: 73.35%
- 7-10 drinks: 11.08%
- 11-15 drinks: 5.54%
- 16-20 drinks: 5.28%
- More than 20 drinks: 4.75%
How often do you mix alcohol and energy drinks?
| Days in the past month | Pre-mixed alcoholic energy drinks (4Loko, Sparks) | Mixed alcohol and energy drinks yourself |
|---|---|---|
| 0 days | 78.88% | 83.82% |
| 1-3 days | 14.71% | 11.14% |
| 4-6 days | 3.48% | 3.98% |
| 7 or more days | 2.94% | 1.06% |
“Binge drinking” is generally defined as having five or more drinks for men and four or more women in about two hours. The national average according to the NIAAA is 45%. At UNCW, 49.08% of students have engaged in binge drinking in the last two weeks and 18.9% of students have binged three or more times in the last two weeks.
Students who drink more per occasion or more often per week increase their risk of experiencing consequences related to their alcohol use. Most UNCW students use protective strategies and take care of their friends to avoid consequences when they drink.
During the last year, have you experienced the following due to your drinking and drug use?
| Consequence | Never | Once | Twice | 3 or more |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Had a hangover | 52.11% | 21.69% | 14.65% | 11.55% |
| Performed poorly on a test or project | 85.87% | 10.73% | 2.54% | .85% |
| Felt nauseated or vomited | 72.11% | 20.85% | 4.51% | 2.53% |
| Done something I later regretted | 73.09% | 16.71% | 5.95% | 4.25% |
| Experienced memory loss or blackout | 67.6% | 17.46% | 7.61% | 7.32% |
| Failed to use safe sex practices | 91.78% | 4.82% | 2.27% | 1.13% |
What About Drinking & Driving?
- 90.4% of UNCW students have not driven a car while under the influence in the last month
- 89.69% of students report always or usually using a designated driver (including taxis) when they go out.
- 84.5% of students report rarely or never riding with a driver who had been drinking.
- 56% have stopped a friend from driving drunk in the last month
Looking for more information and resources?
- Rethinking Drinking: Tools, Quizzes, Calculators, and more
- National Institute on Alcohol Abuse & Alcoholism
- The Higher Education Center for Alcohol, Drug Abuse, and Violence Prevention: Alcohol
- National Institute on Drug Abuse: Alcohol
- Marin Institute Report on Alcohol & Energy Drinks (PDF)
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