Alcohol IQ

What's your alcohol IQ?  Find out by separating the myths from the facts below:

Everyone does a “power hour” on their 21st birthday.

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Myth!

The majority of students don't do it. A study of over 2,500 college students turning 21 found that only 12% reported drinking exactly 21 drinks when celebrating. (Rutledge, 2008)

Everyone takes shots on their 21st birthday.

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Myth!

49% of students reported drinking slowly, rather than gulping or chugging alcoholic drinks (including shots) on their 21st  birthday. (Lewis, 2012)

At the U of A, students who are 21 drink more than students who are under 21.

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Fact! (but not quite what you might think!)

The UA 2014 Health and Wellness Survey, which randomly sampled 1,941 undergraduate students, found that students over 21 consumed more drinks per week than students under 21 (averaging 5 drinks per week compared to 4 drinks per week). However, students over 21 reached lower levels of intoxication than students under 21 the last time they drank.

No one remembers to moderate their drinking on their 21st birthday.

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Myth!

In a sample of over 1,100 students, 60% drank water while enjoying alcohol; 65% had a Designated Driver; 34% had a best friend tell them when they had too much to drink; and 40% alternated alcoholic drinks with nonalcoholic drinks while celebrating their 21st birthday. (Lewis 2012)

References

Rutledge PC, Park A, Sher KJ. 21st birthday drinking: Extremely extreme. J Consult Clin Psychol. 2008;76(3):511-516.

Lewis MA, Patrick ME, Lee CM, Kaysen DL, Mittman A, Neighbors C. Use of protective behavioral strategies and their association to 21st birthday alcohol consumption and related negative consequences: A between- and within-person evaluation. Psychol Addict Behav. 2012;26(2): 179-186.

 

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