AlcoholEdu Report

AlcoholEdu for College is an online, two-hour, customized alcohol educational course required for all incoming first-year students. Used by over 500 institutions around the country, AlcoholEdu applies science-based research to educate students about alcohol and its effects.

Data in this report are based on responses from 3,278 students at Miami University who completed all three AlcoholEdu for College surveys in the fall 2016. Where available, data is benchmarked against the national aggregate (N=340,510). 

Profile of Students' Drinking Behavior

  • 21% of students reported drinking in a high risk way, when measured midway through the fall term of their first year. 
  • 17% of students reported not drinking in the past two weeks, with 29% indicating not drinking in the past year.
  • 81% of students, after completing AlcoholEdu, reported that the course prepared them to make responsible decisions about drinking. 

Drinking-Related Risk Behaviors

Measured midway through the fall term of first year, the most common drinking-related risk behaviors that Miami students engage in are Pregaming and Doing Shots. 

Two of the most frequently reported negative consequences of drinking are Had a Hangover (55%, compared to 47% national average) and Blacked Out (44%, compared to 34% national average). 

Students reported that some of the most important reasons not to drink are because I'm going to drive and that I don't want to spend the money. 

Peak Drinking Days

In the survey about midway through first semester, data from 1,812 first year students demonstrates that the average number of drinks consumed is highest on Saturdays first, Fridays second, and Thursdays third over the three week period measured. This trend is consistent with national data from first year students (n=155,125). However, the average number of drinks consumed by Miami first year students shows a weekly increase on Tuesdays of 1-2 drinks, not seen in the national data.

Where Students Drink

The most common locations where Miami first year students report consuming alcohol in the past two weeks (n=1,812) include: 

  • Bar or nightclub: 50% (compared with 11% national average)
  • Off-campus residence or fraternity/sorority: 27% (compared with 41% national average)
  • On-campus residence: 8% (compared with 17% national average)

Impact of AlcoholEdu

Students reported, after completing the AlcoholEdu course, that the program: 

  • Prepared them to prevent an alcohol overdose (80%)
  • Prepared them to help someone who may have alcohol poisoning (85%)
  • Helped them establish a plan ahead of time to make responsible decisions about drinking (81%)
  • Changed their perceptions of others' drinking behavior (54%)

They also reported an increase in several positive behavioral intentions, including:

  • Reduce the number of drinks
  • Reduce drinking frequency
  • Alternate drink type
  • Pace drinks
  • Set a limit

Among the 59% of high risk drinkers (456 students) who saw "no need to change the way they drink" before taking the AlcholEdu course, 66% of those students (300 students) indicated their readiness to change after completing the course.