Social Norms and Motivations Associated with College Binge Drinking

This study proposes that members of Greek social organizations have higher rates of binge drinking as compared to other college students because of their unique social organization, which supports binge drinking. Using data from the College Alcohol Study, logistic regression analysis results show that Greek members binge drink at higher levels than do other students, which supports previous literature (Cashin, Presley, and Meilman 1998). The results also indicate, however, that social norms and motives for drinking which were thought to be predictive of binge drinking practices for all students are actually better predictors of binge drinking for non-Greek members.