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A Systematic Assessment of Intoxication at University Parties

Effects of the Environmental Context

Center for Applied Behavior Systems in the Department of Psychology at Virginia Tech., kglindem{at}vt.edu

E. Scott Geller

Center for Applied Behavior Systems at Virginia Tech., esgeller{at}vt.edu

Levels of intoxication among university students were assessed at two types of parties: fraternity and private (nonfraternity) parties. Participants' blood alcohol concentration (BAC) levels were assessed using hand-held breathalyzers at 19 parties (11 at fraternity houses and 8 at private residences). A total of 1,525 students (502 women and 1,023 men) participated. Results indicated that students were significantly more intoxicated at fraternity parties (mean BAC = .093) than at private parties (mean BAC = .082), and men (mean BAC = .093) were significantly more intoxicated than women (mean BAC = .080). These results support the common belief that parties hosted by fraternity groups set the occasion for the highest levels of intoxication found on college campuses. The failure to find a main effect for Greek-life status suggests the environmental context (i.e., fraternity house) is a critical determinant of excessive alcohol consumption.

Key Words: alcohol • blood alcohol concentration (BAC) • college students • environment • parties

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