Alcohol

The reason of why university students drink alcohol

Kornkanok Sitthisakundet 1903040013

Maria Tarunina 1907030020
Parinpak Keeratiyingyong 1805170003
<MIS103 SEC 5>
Abstract
58 percent of university students between the ages 18-22 drank alcohol in
the past month, according to a recent National Survey on Drug Use and Health
(NSDUH). That’s a lot of alcohol consumption considering most of that age group
is under the legal drinking age. Excessive drinking, also known as binge drinking, is
defined as drinking at least five drinks in just a few hours and it’s prevalent among
university students. 37.9 percent of university students ages 18-22 reported binge
drinking in the past month. We know there are scary consequences of binge
drinking in university, but why do university students drink in the first place?
(Mars, 2019) For the most common reasons of why university students drink
alcohol is friendship, social belonging, boredom, fear of missing out (FOMO),
stress relief, lowering inhibitions. (Mars, 2019)

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Contents
Abstract.......................................................................................................................................................1
Introduction.................................................................................................................................................3
WHY DO COLLEGE STUDENTS DRINK?.........................................................................................................4
FRIENDSHIP.............................................................................................................................................4
SOCIAL BELONGING.................................................................................................................................4
BOREDOM...............................................................................................................................................5
FEAR OF MISSING OUT (FOMO)...............................................................................................................5
STRESS RELIEF..........................................................................................................................................5
LOWERING INHIBITIONS..........................................................................................................................6
Conclusion...................................................................................................................................................7
Table of Figures...........................................................................................................................................8
References...................................................................................................................................................9

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Introduction
We see many university students drink alcohol a lot nowadays, some of
them start to drink and going night out for the first time when they first stepped
in their university: some of them drinking because there’re an extrovert and likes
to drink, some of them drink occasionally and don’t really like to drink, and some
of them are an alcoholic – even though, they know that alcohol can harm their
body and affects their health in a long term, but they still drink it anyway. So,
there’s a question of what actually makes them start drinking when they’re in
university. The first two reasons that come into mind is probably to socialize and
stress relief, but actual reasons are more than that. However, this report will
discuss about the reasons of why university students drink alcohol.

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WHY DO COLLEGE STUDENTS DRINK?
For many students, college is the time of new experiences, new challenges, and new responsibilities.
This can be both exciting and overwhelming, which may help explain why college students drink so
much.

There are a few common reasons why college students drink.

 Friendship
 Social Belonging
 Boredom
 Fear of Missing Out (FOMO)
 Stress Relief
 Lowering Inhibitions

(Mars, 2019)

FRIENDSHIP
Starting your first year of college may be an
exciting idea, but some students may become anxious by
the thought of a new beginning. It’s not uncommon for
students to go to different colleges than the friends they
knew in high school, which create feelings of discomfort.

For this reason, students may be both eager and nervous

about making new friends.
Figure 1 Drink to make friend

One of alcohol’s main characteristics is that it is a relaxant. It relaxes your nerves and
unfortunately, your ability to make good decisions. It even relaxes speech and motor skills. All this
relaxing leads to false confidence that encourages people to open up socially.

SOCIAL BELONGING
Students leave the comfort and security of
home and jump into a world that is new, a world
where they oversee their life and have the freedom to
do as they please. What pleases them most, however,
is to fit in with their peers.

Some students want to fit in with the college

crowd that avoids alcohol and participates in positive
campus activities. Others want to fit in with the party
Figure 2 Drink for social belonging
crowds who seem to be having a lot more fun.
Appearances can be deceiving.

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Peer pressure can lead some students to accept the offer to drink alcohol in order to be a part of a
group.

BOREDOM
Not all students can develop plans and seek
out positive adventures when they start to feel
bored. Boredom can lead to them joining in with
other bored students who convince them that
drinking is a great form of entertainment.

Alcohol can provide a temporary feeling of

fun and excitement. But there are far more
disadvantages to excessive drinking. Over-drinking
can put students in dangerous situations such as
being secretly drugged, sexual assaults and even legal
issues like driving under the influence charges. Figure 3 Drink of boredom

FEAR OF MISSING OUT (FOMO)1

People, of all ages, fear missing out on

They want to create their own “war stories” from college they can laugh about with other
people. They think this is part of the college culture and they want to experience everything they can
from this culture.

They want to be able to look back on their college life with friends and discuss the wild and crazy
activities they did, the ones that make them confused as to how they are still alive. This can be especially
true among clubs and groups who form a bond through drinking activities.

Fraternities, sororities, and other clubs plan events that specifically involve alcohol. It is in the club’s
history.

STRESS RELIEF
If you think college students do not have much
stress, you are wrong. ABC News reports every 3 out of 4
students report they feel stressed so much that they have
thought about suicide. This is alarming. And since stress
can lead to both physical and mental ailments, it is
something that needs to be addressed.

To alleviate some of their stress, students often

turn to alcohol because of its relaxant effects. Alcohol has
been known to take the edge off anxiety and
Figure 4 Drink for stress relief
1
anxiety that an exciting or interesting event may currently be happening elsewhere, often aroused by
posts seen on a social media website.

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nervousness. What they don’t realize is that alcohol and its after-effects add to the stress they
experience.

Stressors such as maintaining good grades, balancing work and school, peer pressure, workloads
given by teachers, scholarship and grant requirements, and even self-pressure are some of the reason’s
students choose to drink alcohol.

LOWERING INHIBITIONS2
College can be a time where students are beginning to express themselves more sexually. They
may think opening sexually will help them find themselves or satisfy some need. They may be pressured
by a boyfriend or girlfriend to become more active sexually.

Whatever the reason, some students feel drinking alcohol allows them to become less inhibited
and makes them feel sexier. The dangers of mixing alcohol and sex far outweigh any benefits.

Drinking too much alcohol can put students in a situation where they may be pressured to have
sex. They may even make a poor decision to engage in a sexual act with someone they wouldn’t
normally engage with while sober.

2
An inhibition is a force that prevents something from happening—and often comes from you yourself.
Shy people are often said to suffer from inhibitions.

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Conclusion
College may be a time of new experiences, challenges, and responsibilities,
but students with positive support will find balance and enjoy a fulfilling college
experience. Many colleges have sober living residences on campus and mentoring
programs available to students interested in connecting with like-minded peers.
These mentoring programs offer students a connection to the resources they
need to strive for academic success without leaving college. Some colleges also
offer outpatient treatment centers for students struggling to maintain their
grades due to problems with substance use. These can be remarkably helpful for
students who want to get back on track to achieving their goals but need
professional help and support. Life in college may be challenging, but students
who have the right support and mentoring from peers and professionals will be
prepared to face any new challenge they encounter as they make their way
toward their goals.

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Table of Figures
Figure 1 Drink to make friend......................................................................................................................4
Figure 2 Drink for social belonging..............................................................................................................4
Figure 3 Drink of boredom..........................................................................................................................5
Figure 4 Drink for stress relief.....................................................................................................................5

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References
Mars, B. (2019, May 1). WHY DO COLLEGE STUDENTS DRINK ALCOHOL? Retrieved from The Heaven At
College: https://www.thehavenatcollege.com/why-do-college-students-drink/