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Study finds heavy drinking harms others, not just the drinker

Researchers at the Alcohol Research Group surveyed 1,822 first- and second-year college students and found exposure to others' heavy drinking was linked to lower grades, reduced satisfaction, and worse mental health.
Using student questionnaires, the study asked about five harms—being harassed, physically harmed, unwanted sexual contact, academic harms, and `babysat` incidents—measured via questionnaires assessing satisfaction and mental health, said Dr. Pamela Trangenstein, lead researcher.
Survey results showed nearly 15% reported harassment, almost 5% unwanted sexual contact or assault, 3% academic harm, and one-in-three students reported `babysat` incidents.
Study co-author Dr. David Jernigan urged colleges to consider policies like increasing alcohol taxes, limiting availability, restricting marketing, and offering alcohol-free residence halls, given the mental health impacts linked to heavy drinking.
The findings showed different harms were linked to different academic and mental-health outcomes during the current academic year, underscoring ongoing campus concern.

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