Researchers have known for years that membership in a "Greek-letter social organization" is associated with heavy drinking among college students. Problems have ranged from those typically associated with alcohol intoxication to alcohol poisoning and death among sorority and fraternity members. These groups are being much more closely monitored on college and university campuses.

For example, in September of 2008, San Diego Union Tribune reported on San Diego State University, "On the heels of Operation Sudden Fall, SDSU's largest drug bust in university history, fraternities and sororities will be banned from hosting parties with alcohol for five weeks starting tomorrow, about a week before the first day of classes Sept. 2. The ban coincides with a new, five-week period of university-sponsored, alcohol-free weekend night programming, including dances, movies and concerts for all students.

While authorities are finally curbing alcohol use in early college life, researchers have examined what happens with drinking behavior after graduation. In a study of Greek membership and post-college drinking, researchers have found that heavy drinking among college Greeks does not generally lead to increased alcohol use later in life. Furthermore, it isn't necessarily membership in a Greek house that leads to excessive drinking during college but rather the perception among Greek members that such drinking is normal for their group, say researchers.

College students will drink more alcohol when they are around friends who also drink a lot, whether in their fraternity house or at a resort town on spring break with 30 friends. Because these behaviors are situational and peer-driven, they don't usually continue after college, possibly because these young adults adopt more adult roles, such as full-time employment, marriage and parenthood.

In their study of alcohol use during college and after, Drs. Sher and Bartholow surveyed 319 college students about their drinking habits every year during the college years and again three years after graduation. The students were also asked how their friends felt about drinking, how many of their friends drank and how often and what expectations they had concerning the positive effects of alcohol. The authors also assessed participants' academic ability and pre-college achievement and major personality traits such as introversion/extroversion and novelty seeking.

The study found that Greek members drank significantly more during the college years than students who did not belong to Greek houses. In addition, heavy drinking during junior and senior years was associated with being a Greek member as a freshman. But after controlling for background academic and personality factors, Greek members were no more likely to drink excessively after college than those who didn't join a Greek house, said the authors. "Drinking patterns among Greeks and those not affiliated with a Greek house were clearly different during college, but by three years after college, levels of heavy drinking among Greek members had moderated significantly."

Furthermore, the study found that heavy drinking is a result of students' perceptions that excessive alcohol use is normal in Greek houses, and perceptions that their peers encourage and support heavy drinking lifestyle during college, said the authors. "Once the students leave campus they are no longer immersed in a social environment that supports heavy drinking and their drinking decreases as a result."

These findings are certainly consistent with norms-based, prevention approaches that seek to counter faulty beliefs about what constitutes typical drinking levels on campus. However, it is clear that effective prevention of excessive alcohol consumption on campus involves efforts with clear alcohol policies, consistent enforcement of those policies and coordination with prevention efforts in the larger community surrounding the campus. There also needs to be appropriate intervention services for those students manifesting signs and symptoms of alcohol dependence and methods for identifying and motivating them for treatment," said the authors.

References

Sher, K.J., Nanda, S. Bartholow, B.D."Short- and Long-Term Effects of Fraternity and Sorority Membership on Heavy Drinking: A Social Norms Perspective," Psychology of Addictive Behaviors, Vol. 15, No. 1. 2001.

Saavedra, Sherry. SDSU Greeks told to dry out for 5 weeks: Policy prohibits alcohol at sorority, frat parties." San Diego Union Tribune, August 24, 2008.

Originally published 03/01/01

Revised 8/26/08 by Marlene M. Maheu, Ph.D.

Kenneth J. Sher, Ph.D., can be reached by telephone at (573) 882-4279. The American Psychological Association (APA), in Washington, DC.