Comparison of Alcohol Use in an Ethnically Diverse Sample of Women Attending Two Urban Universities

In a similar study of ethnic differences of alcohol use on two college campuses in South Carolina, African American students enrolled at the majority Black institution were less likely to drink, and much less likely to drink to excess than the White students at a majority White institution (Hausman, 2002). Personal characteristics, (including genetics) and other attributes of the campus, including the external environment (i.e. bars, nightclubs,) physical aspects (geographic region, size, living arrangements for students,) and the socio-cultural environment (athletics, Greek organizations, traditions, and social norms and perceptions of drinking), all affect the rates of alcohol consumption on college and university campuses.