How Much Do Students Drink At UH?

The good news is that most University of Hawaii at Mānoa students makes good decisions and smart choices when it comes to drinking. Approximately three fourths of UH Mānoa undergraduates are not considered high-risk drinkers. This is great news and we want to get this message out to the entire UH Mānoa community.

Surveys conducted among undergraduates at UH Mānoa indicate many positive changes in students’ drinking decisions, and we want everyone to know how well we are doing. However, high-risk drinking by even a few affects all college students, whether they choose to drink or not.  High-risk drinkers have a negative impact on the entire college campus and the surrounding community, and they are at risk for future problems with alcohol.  MAP wants to reduce these negative effects.

Our goal is to continue to reduce the harm associated with underage and high-risk drinking, and to make sure everyone is aware that the majority of students drink safely.

Survey Statistics

Surveys conducted in 2009 (MAP Survey*) and 2010 (NCHA**) with UH-Mānoa undergraduates show that:

• Deciding not to drink is more popular than you might think.  UH Mānoa students thought that 6% of students didn’t drink in the last month. In fact, 68% never drink or didn’t drink in the last month.

• UHM students thought almost 15% their peers drank daily over the last 30 days.  In reality, only 1.5% of UHM students used alcohol daily.

• Most UHM students (78%) stayed within healthy drinking limits during the last two weeks, drinking no more than 4 drinks in one sitting.

• The media portrays college students as having parties that last all night, where everyone gets drunk.  UHM undergraduates thought that the typical student had 4 drinks last time he/she partied.  THE FACTS ARE: the median number of drinks reported by UHM undergraduates was 2, the last time they partied.  Also, the median reported length of time drinking alcohol was 2 hours.  In other words, the norm for UHM undergraduates is to drink two alcoholic beverages over the course of 2 hours while partying, thus staying within the recommended limit for drinks per hour and under the maximum limit for drinks per occasion.

• And ….26% of UHM students never drink.

Most undergrads at UHM who choose to drink practice low-risk drinking habits to prevent themselves and others from harm.  For example, in the last 12 months, among those who drink…

• 26.4% chose not to drink most of the time
• 43%  determined not to exceed a set number of drinks, most or all of the time
• 80% ate before and/or during drinking, most or all of the time
• 90% stayed with the same group of friends while drinking, most or all of the time
• 79% used a designated driver most or all of the time

Students at UHM also take care of their friends who drink, and would want someone to watch out for them.  If they were in a drinking situation….

• 82% would want a friend to make sure they weren’t left alone with strangers
• almost 90% would want a friend to make sure they didn’t drive while under the influence
• 96% would keep a friend from harming him or herself*
• 97% would call for help if a friend showed signs of alcohol poisoning*

Most UHM students indicate that drinking is not a central part of their social life:  For example:

• 72% say drinking alcohol is NOT a central part of their social life
• 95% would go to a friend’s party even if alcohol was not available*
• 49% say that drinking alcohol to get drunk is unacceptable*
• 85% say that drinking alcohol to the point of vomiting is unacceptable*

*   From Mānoa Alcohol Project (MAP) Survey, Spring, 2009

** All other questions from National College Health Assessment, Spring, 2010, American College Health Association.