Drinking on Campus:
Differences Between Men and Women
By Callie Schweitzer, Graduate, University of Southern California
When it comes to drinking and college, perceptions and reality are two different things. Many students think college is a place where most students are drinking to excess on a regular basis. According to a survey conducted by the Core Institute, the largest national Alcohol and Other Drug (AOD) database about college students’ drinking and drug use in the country, most students who drink do so responsibly.
On average, college students report they drink fewer than six drinks per week. Furthermore, 54% of college students report they did not engage in binge drinking during the two weeks prior to completing the study, and 35% report “0” as their weekly average number of drinks.
While the majority of students are drinking responsibly, others are facing problems with alcohol. “About 20% of college dropouts can be attributed to drinking and other drug use,” says Jeff Wolfsberg, a drug education specialist in Memphis, Tennessee.
In a Student Health 101 survey of more than 700 college students, 45% of students say they believe drinking alcohol is a problem with some students, and 75% say they’ve experienced side effects of drinking like having a hangover and throwing up.
College students drink for many reasons—novelty, fun, peer pressure, experimentation, escapism, a newfound easy access to alcohol, and more.
“Many college students drink to make social interactions more comfortable,” Wolfsberg says.
This desire to fit in, show off, ease a social situation, or act cool can affect a student’s drinking behavior in a big way. Some students also seek relief from stress by drinking.
For many young adults, college is the first time they’re drinking, and they don’t know their limits—or that men and women have different tolerances.
Differences Between the Sexes
Dr. Diana Robinson, a New York State alcohol and substance abuse counselor, says there are two major physiological reasons why alcohol affects men and women differently: body weight and the prevalence of a stomach enzyme that helps metabolize alcohol.
“On average, women have lower body weight than men. The larger the body, the greater the distribution of the alcohol throughout it, and so the lower the blood alcohol level for the same amount of alcohol,” Robinson says.
So when men and women go shot for shot or drink for drink, the end result can be really dangerous.
“Men have about 50% more of a stomach enzyme known as gastric alcohol dehydrogenase than women,” Robinson says. “Because this enzyme metabolizes 12 to 15% of the alcohol consumed while it is still in the stomach, less alcohol goes on to enter the bloodstream in men.”
Other factors like water in the body and “even medications like birth control all play a role in how alcohol will affect [women] on any given evening,” Wolfsberg says.
Pressure to Drink
Pressure to drink is everywhere—in movies, on TV, in magazines, and, perhaps worst of all, right in front of you among your peers and on social networks.
“The feeling of ‘am I missing something?’ if I don’t drink looms large in the minds of young college students,” Wolfsberg says. “It is true that a large percentage of college students drink, but it is also true that many drink moderately and in a manner that is not dangerous to their physiology.”
In most social situations, alcohol is seen as a lubricant, but moderation is key. There is no one definition of moderate drinking, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, but generally the term is used to describe a lower-risk pattern of drinking. According to the Dietary Guidelines for Americans, drinking in moderation is defined as having no more than one drink per day for women and no more than two drinks per day for men. For more information on moderate drinking,CLICK HERE.
Dan Bloom, a student at the University of Minnesota, Twin Cities, says it’s vital to pace yourself.
“Count the number of drinks you take,” he says. “Wait a little bit after each one to determine whether you really should have another one.” For tips on responsible and moderate alcohol consumption, CLICK HERE.
In the Student Health 101 survey, 6 out of 10 students surveyed say they’ve felt rundown after drinking, and 4 out of 10 say they’ve needed excessive sleep to catch up after drinking.
Paige Marshall, a senior at North Georgia College & State University in Dahlonega, says she rarely drinks because she’s seen alcohol negatively affect friends and family in her life.
“I just think there are far more important things to do in life,” she says. “Remember how you feel the morning after drinking too much. Remember that you’re making a lasting impression on everyone in the room.”
How to Know When Drinking Is a Problem
Drinking is something that most people who are of age can enjoy healthily. But what should you do if you think you or someone you know may have a problem? And how can you tell?
Robinson says there are some key questions to ask:
• Are they getting to class late or not studying because of the effects of drinking?
• Are they putting themselves at risk (e.g., waking up somewhere other than intended, driving after drinking, getting into fights, making poor romantic decisions due to alcohol)?
• Are they drinking more than the advised two drinks per day for males; one for females?
• Are they drinking every day?
• What are their priorities?
• Are they doing things that are against their real values when they drink?
Wolfsberg says taking an honest look at your drinking habits is “one of the most difficult aspects of college drinking.”
The media often trivialize the risks associated with drinking—alcohol poisoning, date rape, sexual assault, and death. But the repercussions of binge drinking or drinking beyond your tolerance should be taken seriously. It’s important to remember there are plenty of resources on campus, in your community, and online for getting help. Visit your college’s counseling center, health center, or Alcoholics Anonymous meetings as a first step to getting back on track.
CALLIE SCHWEITZER IS A RECENT GRADUATE OF THE UNIVERSITY OF SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA IN LOS ANGELES. SHE IS THE ASSISTANT TO THE PUBLISHER AT TALKING POINTS MEMO.
Find Out More
Click for the latest about students and alcohol from the U.S. College Drinking Prevention website.
Click for more about responsible consumption practices from The Century Council's website.
10 Questions to Ask Yourself About Your Drinking Behavior
1. How often do you drink?
2.
How many drinks are you having on average?
3.
Do you drink alone?
4.
Do you drink to make yourself feel better?
5.
Do you drink to have fun?
6.
Is getting high or drinking affecting your performance in school (i.e., missing classes or getting poor grades)?
7.
Have you ever felt guilty or worried after drinking?
8.
Do you black out often?
9.
Have you made promises to yourself about your drinking habits like, “I’ll drink every other weekend,” or “I’ll cut back?”
10.
Do you drink more that you intend to sometimes?