Student Drinking at U.S. College Sports Events

Abstract

Alcohol consumption control policies at U.S. intercollegiate sports events, and their association with student drinking, were assessed using data from a 2001 nationally representative survey of students and administrators (n = 7,261 students, N = 117 colleges). Alcohol was available to sports event attendees through in-stadium sales, tailgating parties, and allowing spectators to bring in alcohol. Policies varied by college, with fewer restrictions at large public schools with NCAA Division I athletics. Permitting alcohol at tailgate parties was associated with more students drinking at sports events. Future research should evaluate whether enacting policy restrictions can reduce drinking and related problems at intercollegiate sports events.

RÉSUMÉ

La politique de réglementation de l’alcool aux événements sportifs universitaires, et son association avec la consommation de l’alcool parmi les étudiants, ont été évaluées en utilisant les données d’une étude d’ensemble nationale et représentative d’étudiants et d’administrateurs en 2001 (n = 7.261 étudiants, N = 117 universités). On a pu obtenir l’alcool par moyen de ventes aux stades, aux fêtes d’avant-match et en permettant aux spectateurs d’apporter l’alcool eux-mêmes. La politique a varié par université, avec moins de restrictions aux grandes écoles publiques avec les competitions athletiques de NCAA Division I. La politique de permettre l’alcool aux fêtes d’avant-match était associée avec plus de consommation parmi les étudiants aux événements sportifs. La recherche au futur doit évaluer si décréter une politique de restrictions peut limiter la consommation de boissons alcooliques, et les problèmes associés, aux événements sportifs des universités.

RESUMEN

Se examinaron las políticas de control de alcohol en eventos deportivos interuniversitarios en los Estados Unidos y su asociación con consumo de alcohol en estudiantes. El estudio utilizó datos de una muestra nacional representativa de estudiantes y administradores universitarios (n = 7261 estudiantes, N = 117 universidades). Alcohol en eventos deportivos era disponible a través de venta dentro del estadio, en reuniones previas al evento (“tailgating”), y permitiendo a los espectadores traer sus bebidas alcohólicas. Las políticas eran diversas, con menos restricciones en grandes universidades públicas con equipos en la División I de la NCAA. La existencia de políticas que permitían reuniones previas (“tailgating”) se asoció a un mayor consumo de alcohol en los estudiantes. La investigación futura debería evaluar si el establecimiento de políticas más restrictivas puede reducir consumo de alcohol y problemas relacionados en eventos deportivos interuniversitarios.

Keywords :

• alcohol
• policy
• sports events
• college
• emerging adulthood

THE AUTHORS

Toben F. Nelson, Sc.D., is an Assistant Professor of Epidemiology and Community Health at School of Public Health, University of Minnesota. Dr. Nelson is a primary faculty member in Alcohol Epidemiology Program, the Tobacco Policy Research Program, and the Minnesota Population Center at University of Minnesota, and he is co-Director of the College Alcohol Study (CAS), Harvard School of Public Health. Prior to joining the faculty of the University of Minnesota he was a Research Associate with the Harvard Prevention Research Center. Dr. Nelson was Assistant Director of Program Evaluation with the CAS and had prior research appointments at the Harvard Injury Control Center and the Harvard Center for Risk Analysis. Dr. Nelson's research focuses on the influence of policy on health behaviors including substance abuse, physical activity, nutrition, motor vehicle safety, and participation in organized sports. In 2008 his research was recognized by Thomson Reuters as among the most highly cited scientific studies in the past decade on the topic underage and college student drinking according to their Essential Science Indicators.

Kathleen M. Lenk, M.P.H., received her Masters in Public Health (Community Health Education) from the University of Minnesota in 1999. She previously was a Research Coordinator and is now a Research Fellow in the Division of Epidemiology and Community Health at the University of Minnesota. As a member of the alcohol and tobacco policy teams, she contributes expertise in data analyses, writing of scientific manuscripts, and in the research literature pertaining to alcohol and tobacco policies.

Ziming Xuan, S.M., M.A., is currently a doctoral student in the Department of Society, Human Development and Health at Harvard School of Public Health. His research interest includes understanding how social-contextual determinants affect mental health and addictive behaviors, especially among vulnerable populations. He is interested in evaluating the efficacy of health and social policy on mental health outcomes. Before he joined the doctoral program in 2004, he was a research associate at UConn Health Center and involved in evaluating the media effect of malt liquor advertisements on alcohol use among racial and ethnic minority populations.

Henry Wechsler, Ph.D., is the director of the Harvard School of Public Health College Alcohol Studies Program, funded by the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation. He is a lecturer (retired) in the Department of Society, Human Development and Health at the Harvard School of Public Health. Dr. Wechsler is a social psychologist with a long-term commitment to research on alcohol and drug abuse among young people. At a time when most attention was placed on marijuana and other illicit drug use, Dr. Wechsler's research pointed to the greater prevalence and harm resulting from alcohol abuse. His research has pointed to the important roles that the alcohol environment and alcohol policy plays in student problem drinking, including the availability, marketing, and low cost of alcohol, as well as the heavy drinking traditions of many colleges, especially those found in fraternities, sororities, and intercollegiate sports. Dr. Wechsler is the author of 17 books and monographs and more than 150 articles in professional journals on alcohol abuse and other high risk behaviors. He is the recipient of the American Public Health Association Alcohol Tobacco and Other Drug section's College-Based Leadership Award (2001), and the American College Health Association's Clifford B. Reifler Award (2001).