Facing the consequences of binge drinking.

In the fall of 2011, a student at Acadia University died as a result of binge drinking during his first night on campus for orientation week. This prompted us to seek an answer to the question asked by many on campus: How could this have happened? The consumption of alcohol has a long-standing reputation for enhancing social gatherings. However, the excessive consumption of alcohol is gaining rapid popularity and social acceptance across Canadian campuses, and consuming alcohol underage has become a social outlet for many youth and students. Binge drinking is defined as 5 drinks per sitting for men and 4 drinks per sitting for women.1 In a 2004 survey of Canadians who reported binge drinking during the past 30 days, 24.2% were students and an additional 25.6% were individuals aged 18 to 24 years who were not students.2 Average alcohol consumption peaks when students consume alcohol during parties (6.0 drinks), in bars (5.1 drinks), or in university housing (5.7 drinks), all of which are common environments in student life.2 Further, average alcohol intake is positively correlated with group size, and students will consume 6.2 drinks per night in a large group versus 1.8 drinks per night when alone.2