TY - JOUR
T1 - The state sets the rate
T2 - The relationship among state-specific college binge drinking, state binge drinking rates, and selected state alcohol control policies
AU - Nelson, Toben F.
AU - Naimi, Timothy S.
AU - Brewer, Robert D.
AU - Wechsler, Henry
PY - 2005/3
Y1 - 2005/3
N2 - Objectives. We assessed the relationship between college binge drinking, binge drinking in the general population, and selected alcohol control policies. Methods. We analyzed binge drinking rates from 2 national surveys, the Harvard School of Public Health College Alcohol Study and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System. Binge drinking data were linked to a summary measure of 7 salient alcohol control policies and a rating of resources devoted to law enforcement. Results. State-level college and adult binge drinking rates were strongly correlated (Pearson correlation coefficient = 0.43; P<.01). Attending college in states with the lowest binge drinking rates (adjusted odds ratio [OR] = 0.63; 95% confidence interval [CI] = 0.41, 0.97) and presence of more stringent alcohol control policies (adjusted OR = 0.57; 95% CI = 0.33, 0.97) were independent predictors of student binge drinking, after adjusting for state law enforcement and individual-, college-, and state-level covariates. Conclusions. State of residence is a predictor of binge drinking by college students. State-level alcohol control policies may help reduce binge drinking among college students and in the general population.
AB - Objectives. We assessed the relationship between college binge drinking, binge drinking in the general population, and selected alcohol control policies. Methods. We analyzed binge drinking rates from 2 national surveys, the Harvard School of Public Health College Alcohol Study and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System. Binge drinking data were linked to a summary measure of 7 salient alcohol control policies and a rating of resources devoted to law enforcement. Results. State-level college and adult binge drinking rates were strongly correlated (Pearson correlation coefficient = 0.43; P<.01). Attending college in states with the lowest binge drinking rates (adjusted odds ratio [OR] = 0.63; 95% confidence interval [CI] = 0.41, 0.97) and presence of more stringent alcohol control policies (adjusted OR = 0.57; 95% CI = 0.33, 0.97) were independent predictors of student binge drinking, after adjusting for state law enforcement and individual-, college-, and state-level covariates. Conclusions. State of residence is a predictor of binge drinking by college students. State-level alcohol control policies may help reduce binge drinking among college students and in the general population.
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=14644390941&partnerID=8YFLogxK
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/citedby.url?scp=14644390941&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.2105/AJPH.2004.043810
DO - 10.2105/AJPH.2004.043810
M3 - Review article
C2 - 15727974
AN - SCOPUS:14644390941
SN - 0090-0036
VL - 95
SP - 441
EP - 446
JO - American journal of public health
JF - American journal of public health
IS - 3
ER -