2. Purpose and Hypothesis
This research project was conducted with the purpose of
discovering the drinking habits of the USM student
population in order to prove that students are consuming
mass amounts of alcohol on the weekends.
My questions were designed to gain information of when,
where and how much on a regular basis.
3. Literature Review
My springboard and basis for the survey questions was
www.collegedrinkingprevention.gov
This website offers snapshot statistics, as well as research,
information on alcohol and where to find help, if needed.
4. Expectations
I expected to find that the majority of college students,
underage and legal, were consuming mass amounts of
alcohol on a regular basis.
As well as overconsumption, I expected there to be a
disregard for general safety.
5. How to do it
I decided that a survey handed out to a random population
of USM students would be the best approach to gain the
information necessary.
The survey was taken by 62 students; 31 underage, and 31
legal students.
6. The Survey
Are you over 21?
Yes/No
When did you start drinking?
High School/College/I don’t drink
How many drinks do you consume weekly?
1-3/4-8/9-15/More than 15
Do you only drink on the weekends?
Yes/No
Where do you usually drink?
Home/Bars/Frat Houses/House Party
When you go out, do you make a safe plan to get home before you leave?
Yes/No
7. Survey (continued)
Have you ever driven under the influence of alcohol?
Yes/No
Have you ever received a summons, or been arrested for alcohol related issues?
Yes/No
Have you ever thrown up from drinking?
Yes/No
Has being drunk, or hung over, ever prevented you from doing things that you need to get done?
Yes/No
8. When did you start drinking?
High School
College
I don't drink
9. How many drinks do you consume weekly?
1 to 3
4 to 8
9 to 15
Over 15
10. Do you only drink on the weekend? (Thursday-
Sunday)
Yes
No
11. Where do you usually drink?
Home
Bars
Frat Houses
House Parties
12. When you go out, do you make a safe plan to get home
before you leave?
Yes
No
13. Have you ever driven under the influence of alcohol?
Yes
No
14. Have you ever recevied a summons, or been arrested
for alcohol related issues?
Yes
No
16. Has being drunk, or hungover, ever prevented you from
getting things done that you need to?
Yes
No
17. Findings
As you can see from the charts, the random population
that I polled, drinks a lot, and often.
Most of the findings were what I was expecting, but a few
surprised me.
After viewing the statistics on
collegedrinkingprevention.gov, I was expecting a general
disregard of safety, but the majority of the students polled
find a safe way home BEFORE they leave
That being said, I was surprised that so many students had
driven under the influence.
18. Conclusion
In conclusion, my findings proved my hypothesis to be
true. The majority of college students at USM, both legal
and underage, are consuming alcohol in mass
amounts, mostly on the weekends.
