Epidemiology of alcohol use among Florida college students

When considering the evolving nature of problematic drinking, it is important to continually assess its prevalence throughout various demographics. Our goal was to analyze significant demographical data from a longitudinal pilot study measuring drinking behavior relative to inhibitory functioning among the young adult college population. Post hoc analyses revealed that when comparing African Americans (M=19.40, SD=±3.286) to European Americans (M=15.75, SD=±2.173) and Hispanics/Latinos (M=16.06, SD=±2.886), African Americans reported a significantly older age of drinking onset. ANOVA analyses revealed men and European Americans to consume significantly more alcohol than others. The age at which one began drinking significantly predicted numerous drinking behaviors: average number of drinks consumed, b=-.35, t(47)=-2.56, p < .05; largest number of drinks consumed per occasion, b=-.43, t(48)=-3.26, p < .01. Conversely, older age of one’s first binge drinking experience significantly predicted future frequent drinking behaviors.