College Parties and Alcohol Consumption by Hosts

College Parties and Alcohol Consumption by Hosts

In January, 2012 a new study conducted by researchers at Ohio State University examined the drinking patterns of those who host college parties with alcohol on campus versus those who host college parties with alcohol off campus. Researchers found that on any weekend, 10 percent of students at any college can be hosting a party.

On average the host of an off campus college party with alcohol, consumed more alcohol than the party’s attendees. Hosts living off campus tend to drink heavier, set the tone for attendees and what will be consumed, and tend to have more drinking problems than the hosts of on campus parties.

Eighty percent of the parties hosted were held off campus. Off campus party hosts engaged in more problematic behaviors including: arguments, flashing, vandalism, physical fighting and more. On campus hosts drank  significantly less than their peers off campus and engaged in less problematic behavior. The negative consequences of alcohol coupled with the risk of getting into trouble with campus police was a factor to be further examined by future researchers.

(Source: adapted from http://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2012-01/osu-so012412.php)