Alcohol Consumption Among University Students in North Rhine–Westphalia, Germany—Results From a Multicenter Cross-sectional Study

Abstract

Objective: To assess alcohol use and problem drinking among university students in the German Federal State of North Rhine–Westphalia (NRW) and to examine the associated factors. Method: A multicenter cross-sectional study was conducted in 16 universities in 2006–2007 in NRW by a standardized questionnaire and 3,306 students provided information (response rate of 88%). Problem drinking was measured by the CAGE questionnaire. Results: Alcohol consumption in the last 3 months was reported by >90 % of students. About 80% reported heavy drinking, and 20% displayed problem drinking. Male students, students living in residence halls, and students from sport faculties had a higher risk of heavy drinking and problem drinking. When students were compared across study years, frequency of heavy drinking decreased with higher semesters. Conclusions: Overall, heavy drinking and problem drinking are common among university students in this sample. Intervention programs should be designed for students at a particularly high risk.

Keywords:

• alcohol
• Germany
• problem drinking
• university students

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

The authors thank the universities that participated in the survey: RWTH Aachen University, Bielefeld University of Applied Sciences, Bielefeld University, Bochum University of Applied Sciences, Ruhr University of Bochum, University of Bonn, University of Dortmund, University of Duisburg-Essen, University of Düsseldorf, German Sport University Cologne, Cologne University of Applied Sciences, Münster University of Applied Sciences, University of Münster, University of Paderborn, University of Siegen, and University of Wuppertal. The authors thank the reviewers of the manuscript for their helpful comments. The authors also thank Dr Frank Pessler and Dr John McAlaney for conducting proofreading for them.

This study was funded by a statutory insurance company, Techniker Krankenkasse, the statutory accidence insurance fund of North Rhine–Westphalia (Unfallkasse NRW), and internal funding of Bielefeld University. None of the funding bodies influenced study design, interpretation, and publication of the results.