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The 2004 Canadian Campus Survey studied substance use and drinking patterns among undergraduate students over the past year. The survey reveals that most undergraduates drink in moderation. Nevertheless, the data show that more than 20% of BC undergraduates engage in heavy drinking. About 12% are heavy-frequent drinkers (five or more drinks on the days they drink and drinking at least weekly or more often), and approximately 10% are heavy-infrequent drinkers (usually consuming five drinks or more on the days they drink and drinking less than once a week).
Though these findings are troubling, it is important to note that well over half of BC undergraduates are light drinkers. Approximately 36% are light-infrequent drinkers who usually consume less than five drinks on the days that they drink while drinking less than once a week. Twenty-one per cent are light-frequent drinkers, usually drinking at least once a week and consuming one to four drinks on the days that they drink. Rounding out the picture of alcohol consumption by BC undergraduates, approximately 21% are either lifetime abstainers or former drinkers.
In addition to examining drinking behaviour over the past year, the Canadian Campus Survey studied the drinking patterns of BC undergraduates over a 30 day period during the school term, a time when they might be more sensitive to the campus environment.
Looking at the drinking patterns of undergraduates over the previous month, 28% can be classified as light-frequent drinkers, consuming less than five drinks on the days that they drink but drinking at least once a week. Approximately 18% of BC undergraduates are heavy drinkers, with 14% consuming five drinks or more on the days that they drink and drinking at least once a week.
An examination of past-year and past-month drinking patterns demonstrates that over half of undergraduates are light drinkers. But some differences in frequency are apparent. The number of undergrads who engaged in light-frequent drinking and heavy-frequent drinking in the past month (while on campus) is greater than the number who drank either lightly but frequently or heavily and frequently over the past year (while both on and off campus).
Whether or not it is a person’s usual pattern of drinking, episodic heavy drinking is associated with elevated liability to a broad range of acute or short-term harms. Even if not typical for them, nearly one-quarter of BC undergraduates reported drinking risky amounts (five or more drinks at least twice in the past month) during the school term. One in ten consumed at even riskier levels, drinking eight drinks or more at least twice in the same period.
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