I.

II.

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
Title:
BINGE DRINKING AND ACADEMIC PERFORMANCE OF COLLEGE
STUDENTS
College:
HOTEL AND RESTAURANT MANAGEMENT
Researchers:
Ma. CECILIA P. PRADEZ
HONIELYN B. PANTIG
MAY NERISSA S. LOPEZ
Sector:
Social
Status:
Complete
Duration: four (4) months
Budget:
P15,000.00 (Fifteen Thousand Pesos)
ABSTRACT
This study attempted to identify the academic performance of the college
binge drinkers as well as the different factors that influences binge drinkers
to consume alcoholic beverage.
The participants of the study were 237 college binge drinkers of Nueva
Ecija University of Science and Technology coming from six (6) courses.
Binge drinkers were pre-identified by means of 3 approaches: 1)
observation, 2) referral system, and 3) personal interview. After identifying
the respondents, questionnaires were disseminated.
Results of the written interview were analyzed. The study came up with
the following findings: college binge drinkers consumed both distilled and
fermented liquor, most of them belonged to weekly alcohol drinkers and can
consumed 5-7 bottles of beer and/or consumed 10-14 shots of distilled liquor.
The data also revealed that most of the college binge drinkers were under
low risk drinking with a grade point average of 3.0 (very poor).
The respondents weekly allowance, exposure to alcohol drinking, position
in the family and religion were confirmed to have a significant relationship to
the level of alcohol consumption of the college binge drinkers. With this, the
level of alcohol consumption was correlated to the academic performance of
the students and that, the different factors that influence students to
consume alcohol and the level and risk of alcohol consumption interpreted to
have significant relationship.
Thus, it is recommended that the university officials, guidance and
counseling office with coordination of the student government and faculty
should create program of equipping college students with education
regarding advantages and disadvantages of drinking alcohol and include
annual counseling program as well as preventive program to include different

options and offer drinking alternatives appropriate for the different attitudes
of young adults about alcohol.

III.

RATIONALE
To partake in alcoholic refreshment is to partake in tradition. Drinking
alcoholic beverages is usual part of social gatherings around the world. The
Filipinos ranked third to Thailand and Japan among Asian countries in terms
of per capita consumption. 38.9% are occasional alcohol drinkers, 11.1% are
regular drinkers while 44.88% are heavy drinkers which, 43.5% are males
and 1.3% are females. The total recorded per capita consumption of Filipinos
is 33.75 litres of pure alcohol for those fifteen years old and above and
increases by 10% every year (WHO, 2004).
According to Suvarna (2006) college students are interested about
achieving independence from their parents and guardian. As they need
acceptance and belongingness they tend to form groups. They form
socialization such as parties, they tend to hang out together, exchange ideas
and thoughts, compare notes about their lives and engage in
experimentation.
Binge drinking is the consumption of large amount of alcohol on a
single occasion and/or having five or more drinks in a row for both men and
women. Many studies shows that drinking affects college students, their
families and college communities at large and consequences include injury,
assaults, sexual abuse, unsafe sex, alcohol abuse and dependence, drunk
driving and academic problems.
With regards to the relationship of alcohol consumption to academic
problems, a study conducted by Lisa Powell (2002) states that consumption
of alcohol can be expected to have a negative impact on study habits.
Hence, also according to Deroma, Leach and Leverett, (2009) academic
stress is known as essential stressors of college life which is considered as
one of the factors that influence alcohol consumption of the college students.
Moreover, according to a study of Amy Wolaver (2002), students who
occasionally or frequently binge drink miss classes more and end up falling
behind on their school work. More than the amount of alcohol consumed, the
frequency in which students drink appears to have a greater effect on
lowering GPA.

In order to cope with academic stress, family conflicts, peer pressure

and conformity college students turn to alcoholic beverage as their escape
then later on engage in binge drinking behavior.
Given these reasons, the researchers motivated to pursue a study
about the level of alcohol consumption of binge drinkers as well as the
factors both internal and external affecting alcohol consumption and its
relationship to academic performances of college students in the different
colleges at Nueva Ecija University of Science and Technology.

IV.

OBJECTIVES
General Objectives:
1. Describe the academic performance of the college binge drinkers as
well as the different factors that influences binge drinkers to consume
alcoholic beverage.
Specific Objectives:
1. Describe the profile of the respondents.
2. Describe the alcohol consumption of the college students.
3. Describe the level of alcohol consumption of college binge drinkers
from the NEUST.
4. Describe the factors that influence college binge drinkers to consume
alcoholic drinks.
5. Describe the level of academic performance of the college students be
described in terms of their Grade Point Average (GPA).
6. Describe the relationship between the profile and level of alcoholic
consumption and academic performance of the college students in
NEUST.
7. Describe the relationship between the different factors that influence
alcohol consumption and the level of alcohol consumption of the binge
drinker college students of NEUST.

V.

METHODOLOGY
The study utilized descriptive design in the conduct of research; the
evaluation of Binge Drinking and Academic Performance of College Students
was done through the use of questionnaire. The study was conducted on
November 2012, with 237 college binge drinkers of NEUST (General Tinio and
Sumacab Campuses) coming from six (6) courses.

Binge drinkers were pre-identified by means of 3 approaches:

Observation
Referral system
Personal interview
After identifying the respondents, questionnaires were disseminated
which was also simplified into three (3) parts.The first part of the
questionnaire includes the profile of the respondents; the second part will
contain queries regarding the risk and level of alcohol consumption of the
respondents; the third part will determine the different factors influencing
college students to consume alcoholic drinks.
After retrieval of questionnaires, data were organized and statistical
treatments were applied.

Conceptual Framework
Through this study, the researchers seek constructive and informative
facts about binge drinking. The facts would include the profile of the
respondents, its alcohol consumption and factors that influence them to
drink alcoholic beverages. These data will be gathered through interview.
Research Paradigm
Profile

Alcohol
Consumption

Level of Alcohol
Consumption

Academic
Performance
Factors

VI.

RESULTS AND DISCUSSION

Table 1
Profile of the Respondents in terms of Age, Sex, Religion, Course,
Year Level and Weekly Allowance
Socio-Demographic Profile of
the Respondents
N=237
Age16-18
19-21
22-24
25-28
Total
Sex
Male
Female
Total
Religion
Roman Catholic
Iglesia ni Cristo
Others i.e. Born Again
Christian; Methodist;
Baptist; etc

Frequency

Percentage

80
135
17
5
237

33.76
56.96
7.17
2.11
100.00

144
93
237

60.8
39.2
100.00

187
33
17

78.9
13.9
7.2

Total
237
Course
COE
48
CHRM
41
COC
47
COED
18
CMBT
44
CICT
39
Total
237
Year Level
2nd
56
3rd
74
th
4
73
5th
34
Total
237
Weekly Allowance
3,000Php Above
14
2,000Php to less than 108
3,000Php
1,000Php to less than 85
2,000Php
Less than 1,000Php
30
Total
237

100.00
20.3
17.3
19.8
7.6
18.6
16.5
100.00
23.6
31.2
30.8
14.3
100.00
5.9%
45.6%
35.9%
12.7%
100

Table 2
Profile of the Respondents in terms of Position in the Family,
Situation of Parents, Exposure to Alcohol
Drinking and Age Started Drinking Alcohol
Socio-Demographic Profile of the
Respondents
N=237
Position in the Family
Eldest
Second to the eldest
Third to the eldest
Youngest
Others
Total
Living Arrangement
Home
Boarding House
Total

Frequen
cy

Percentage

80
101
24
29
3
237

33.8%
42.6%
10.1%
12.2%
1.3%
100

139
98
237

58.65%
41.35%
100

Situation of Parents
Married
118
Living in together
49
Single Parent
31
Separated
39
Total
237
Exposure to Alcohol Drinking
Both Parents consume
42
Father consume
111
Mother consume
31
Parents do not consume
53
Total
237
Age when started drinking alcoholic
beverage
20
13-14
191
15-16
17
17-18
4
19-20
1
21-22
237
Total

49.8%
20.7%
13.1%
16.5%
100
17.7%
46.8%
13.1%
22.4%
100
10.13
80.59
7.17
1.69
0.42
100

Table 3
Alcohol Consumption of the College Students in terms of Type of
Alcoholic Beverage they Drink, Frequency of Drinking, Bottles
of Beer Consumed in a Single Seat/Occasion and/or
Number of Shots Consumed in a
Single Sitting/Occasion

Responses
Frequenc Percentage
N=237
y
Type of Alcoholic drink the students
drink
57
24.10%
Distilled liquor
62
26.20%
Fermented liquor
118
49.80%
Both
237
100%
Total
Frequency of Drinking
Daily
37
15.6%
Every other week
53
22.4%
Weekly
89
37.6%
Once every two weeks
58
24.5%
Total
237
100%
Bottles of fermented liquor (beer)
consumed in a single sitting/occasion
14-up bottles
22
9.3%
11-13 bottles
69
29.1%
8-10 bottles
53
22.4%
5-7 bottles
92
38.8%
Others
1
.4%
Total
237
100%
Number of shots of distilled liquor
(hard spirits) consumed in a single
sitting/ occasion
27
11.40%
38-up shots
73
30.80%
26-36 shots
57
24.10%
16-24 shots
80
33.80%
10-14 shots
0
0
Others
237
100%
Total
Table 4
The Level of Alcohol Consumption of College Students of Nueva Ecija
University of Science and Technology
Level of Alcohol Consumption
N=237
Very High Risk Drinking
High Risk Drinking
Medium Risk Drinking
Low Risk Drinking
No risk Drinking
Total

Frequenc
y
11
41
16
104
65
237

Percentage
4.64%
17.3%
6.75%
43.88%
27.3%
100

Table 5
Factors that Influence College Binge Drinkers to
Consume Alcoholic Drinks
Factors
N=237

Items

Stressor 1. Failing grade and

s/Proble academic problem
ms
2.Test/examination
anxiety
3. Learning disabilities
4. Adjustment anxiety
5. Decision Making
6. Grade Competition
7. Escape boredom and
loneliness
8. Problems with
relationship to opposite
sex
9. Emotional abuse
10. Identity and role
confusion
11. Pressure due to high
expectations of parents
12. Problems with parent
13. Parent conflict and
misunderstanding
14. Poor communication
in the family
15. Sibling rivalry
16. Substitute to an
unsatisfying relationship
17. Delayed allowances
18. Tight budget
19. Unexpected school
expenses
20. Tuition fee due date
21. Financial worries
22. Roommate difficulties
23. Need to drink to
bolster self confidence
24. Drinking as a measure
of independence
25. Drinking to satisfy
curiosity

Weight
ed
Mean

Verbal
Interpreta
tion

Ran
k

2.86
2.57
2.86
2.88
2.98
2.49
2.78

Often
Often
Often
Often
Often
Sometimes
Often

3.5
9
3.5
2
1
10
5

2.45
2.13
2.25

Sometimes
Sometimes
Sometimes

13
26
24

2.46
2.26

Sometimes
Sometimes

12
23

2.35

Sometimes

20

2.29
2.20

Sometimes
Sometimes

22
25

2.40
2.40
2.47
2.43
2.38
2.41
2.32

Sometimes
Sometimes
Sometimes
Sometimes
Sometimes
Sometimes
Sometimes

17.5
17.5
11
14
19
16
21

2.72

Often

2.76
2.74
2.42

Often
Often
Sometimes

6
7
15

26. Drinking to facilitate

romance
Table 6
Factors that Influence College Binge Drinkers to
Consume Alcoholic Drinks
Factor
N= 237

Items

Conformit
y/ Peer
Pressure

Weight
ed
Mean
2.40

Verbal
Interpreta
tion
Sometimes

1. Friend/ peer
Conflict
2. Need to drink to be 2.70
Often
accepted in the group
3. Need to drink to
facilitate friendship
2.73
Often
formation
4. House mates
2.73
Often
indulge in alcohol
drinking
Table 7
Factors that Influence College Binge Drinkers to
Consume Alcoholic Drinks

Factor
N= 237

Items

Weight
ed
Mean

Ran
k
4
3
1.5
1.5

Verbal
Interpreta
tion

Celebrations

Ran
k

1. Parties in the school

/university
2.73
Often
2
2. Birthday of peers
/classmates
2.75
Often
1
3. Winning Competitions 2.62
Often
3.5
4. Passing of term
examinations and others 2.62
Often
3.5
5. Batch/class reunion
2.61
Often
5
Table 8
Level of Academic Performance of the College Binge Drinkers in
terms of their Grade Point Average (GPA)

<1.25
<1.50
<1.75
<2.25
<2.50

Average Academic
Performance
to 1.0 (EXCELLENT)
to 1.25 (SUPERIOR)
to 1.50 (ABOVE AVERAGE)
to 2.00 (AVERAGE)
TO 2.25 (AVERAGE)

Frequen
cy
0
0
1
6
30

Percenta
ge
0.00
0.00
0.42
2.53
12.66

<2.75 to 2.50 (BELOW AVERAGE)

3.00 to 2.75 (POOR)
Below 3.00 (VERY POOR)
TOTAL

27
82
87
237

11.39
34.60
36.71
100.00

Table 9
Significant Relationship between the Profile and Level of Alcohol
Consumption of the College Binge Drinkers

Profile

Level of alc.
Consumption,
r-value @ n
=237

Age

-0.0538

Gender

0.0818

Course
Year level
weekly allowance
Religion
Position in the family

0.0853
-0.2521**
0.2448**
0.1183*
-0.1449*

Ethnicity

-0.0464

living Arrangement

0.0005

Interpretation
No significant
relationship
No significant
relationship
No significant
relationship
Significant relationship
Significant relationship
Significant relationship
Significant relationship
No significant
relationship
No significant
relationship
No significant
relationship

Situation of Parents
-0.0301
Exposure to alcohol
drinking
-0.1462*
Significant relationship
age started drinking
No significant
alcoholic drinks
-0.0763
relationship
*correlation is significant @ 0.05 level,**correlation is significant @ 0.01 level

Table 10
Significant Relationship between the Level of Alcohol
Consumption and Academic Performance of the
College Binge Drinkers in NEUST

Variables

Academic performance, r-value

@ n = 237

Level of Alcohol Consumption

0.1613**

Interpretation
Significant Relationship
**correlation is significant @ 0.01 level
Table 11
Significant Relationship between the Different Factors that Influence
Alcohol Consumption and the Level of Alcohol Consumption of
College Binge Drinkers in NEUST
Variables
Factors that influence students to
Consume Alcohol

Level of Alcohol
Consumption, r-value @
n=237
0.3228**

Interpretation
Significant Relationship
**correlation is significant @ 0.01 level
VII.

CONCLUSION
Based on the results and findings of the study, the following conclusions
were drawn:
1. College binge drinkers in NEUST were between the ages 19 to 21. Most of
the college binge drinkers belonged to Roman Catholicism, Engineering
students and had a weekly allowance of 2,000Php to less than 3,000Php.
2. The respondents consumed both distilled and fermented liquor; fall under
the category of weekly drinker and most of college binge drinkers can
drink 5 to 7 bottles of beer, while other respondents can consume 26 to
36 shots of non beer drinks.
3. The respondents risk and level of alcohol consumption was under the low
risk drinking of the Harm Reduction for Alcohol Risk Chart.
4. The different factors that influence college binge drinkers to consume
alcoholic drinks were grouped into three main classes namely stressors/
problems, conformity/peer pressure and celebrations. Most of the
respondents stressors/problems are decision making. The respondents
are conforming to their peers so that they can facilitate friendship
formation and pressured to involve in alcohol drinking because their
housemates indulge in alcohol drinking. Meanwhile celebrations such as
birthday of classmates/peers are the major reason why respondents
indulge in binge drinking.

5. The respondents level of academic performance in terms of their Grade

Point Average mostly is under below 3.0 (very poor).
6. The respondents profile is significantly correlated to their level of alcohol
consumption. The lower the year level, the higher the level of alcohol
consumption. Meanwhile, the higher the weekly allowance, the higher the
level of alcohol consumption and college binge drinkers who were
exposed to families in which both parents consume alcohol, have higher
level of alcohol consumption.
7. The respondents over-all academic performance has significant
relationship to their level of alcohol consumption. The study reveals that
the higher the level of alcohol consumption, the lower the grade point
average.
8. The respondents level of alcohol consumption is significantly correlated
to the different factors that influence alcohol consumption.
VIII.

RECOMMENDATIONS
From the findings and conclusions that were extracted from the study,
the researcher ends up to the following recommendations:
1. That the university Officials with the help of the Guidance and Counselling
Office should create program on how to equip college students with
education regarding the advantages and disadvantages of drinking
alcohol especially on how it will affect their studies by continuously and
simultaneously addressing alcohol related attitudes and behaviors.
2. The university Officials upon creating alcohol consumption prevention
program must consider different options and offer drinking alternatives
appropriate for the different attitudes of young adults about alcohol.
3. That the university guidance office with the help of guidance and
counselling unit of each colleges should include an annual counselling to
college students regarding the consequences of choosing to consume or
not to consume alcoholic beverages and further enhance counselling
strategies to understand the exploration of philosophies, lifestyles,
relationships and behaviors of young adults.
4. That the university officials, guidance counsellors and university student
government must take into consideration on how to include negative
effects of binge drinking in the college curriculum. Be it incorporated as
one of the topics in NSTP program or one of the Social Science subjects so
that alcohol consumption awareness will be at large.
5. The university officials, Instructors, Professors, Guidance Counsellors most
specially parents/guardians should take their vital part in changing the
viewpoint of young adults by making them aware that indulging in binge
drinking is not the solution on every problems/stressors they encountered
and will encounter during their entire college days.
6. The researcher also suggested that further studies should be done. The
present study only focuses on the profile and its relationship to the level

of alcohol consumption as well as the different factors that influence

alcohol consumption and its impact on students academic performance,
future research may include other factors such as alcohol tolerance of the
college binge drinkers and the percentage of alcohol related incidences
among college students as a consequences of too much alcohol
consumption such as injury, assault, death and others.

IX.

REFERENCES:
Axelrod, A. (1997). Complete Idiots Guide Mixing Drinks. Alpha Books A
Beck, K. (2008). Social Context of Drinking and Alcohol Problem Among
College Students
Billingham, R. et.al, (1999). Parental Divorce and Consequences of Drinking
Among College Students. College Student Journal
Harper, V.; (2005). Effects of Binge Drinking on College Students.
Leman, K. (2009). The Birth Order Book
Lesch, W. et.al, (1991). International Journal
Mc Caffrey, DF.; Does Alcohol Advertising promote Adolescent Drinking?
Results from a Longitudinal Assessment. 2005
Molstad et.al, Family History and Alcohol Consumption Patterns of College
Students at a Rural Southern University. Fall 2004
O Donnell B. (2013). Wine Spectator Magazine. August issue
Paschall, M. et.al, (2003) Does Heavy Drinking Affect Academic Performance
in College? Findings from a Prospective Study of High Achievers. Journal of
Studies on Alcohol
Powell, L.; Binge Drinking and Violence Among College Students. November
2002
Regan, M. (2003). The Bartenders Best friend. John Wiley and Sons Inc.
Hoboken, New Jersey
Ruiz, A. et.al (2006). Food and Beverage Reference Dictionary. Merriam &
Simon and Schuster Macmillan Company, New York

Savrock, J. (2009) Study shows Inverse Relationship between Alcohol Abuse

and Academic Performance of College Students. PENNSTATE College of
Education Journal
Subia, G. et.al (2013). Statistics Manual A Guide for Researchers and Thesis
Writers. Wesleyan University- Philippines, Cabanatuan City
Sullivan, M. et.al (2002). Understanding College Alcohol Abuse and Academic
Performance: Selecting Appropriate Intervention Strategies. Journal of
College Counseling
Vantamay, S.; Alcohol Consumption Among University Students: Applying a
Social Ecological Approach for Multi Level Preventions. March 2009
Webster Bookstore Inc, Manila, Philippines
Wechsler, et.al (2000). College Students Define Binge Drinking and Estimate
its
Prevalence:
Results
of
a
National
Survey.
Journal
of American College Health
Wolaver, A. (2002). Effects of Heavy Drinking in College on Study Effort,
Grade Point Average, and Major Choice. Contemporary Economic Policy
Electronic Sources
http://www.redorbit.com/news/health/1112678454/binge-drinking-frat-boys082012/date retrieved: July 9, 2013, 2:30PM
http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/j.13600443.2009.02880.x/full date
retrieved: July 9, 2013, 2:40PM
http://public.csusm.edu/smosleh/GEL101(Fall09TR)/Documents/GEL110/Crtic
alThinking/Effects%20of%20Binge%20Drinking%20on%20College
%20Students.htm date retrieved: July 9, 2013, 2:40PM
http://www.collegedrinkingprevention.gov/CollegeStudents/Default.aspx date
retrieved: July 11, 2013; 5:30AM
http://www.nih.gov/Resources/ResearchResources date retrieved: July 11,
2013, 5:40AM
http://hamsnetwork.org/limits/ August 2, 2013; 9:00AM
http://alcoholism.about.com/lr/alcohol_and_women/41743/1/ date retrieved:
August 2, 2013; 10:00AM
http://pubs.niaaa.nih.gov/publications/arh26-4/245-250.htm date retrieved:
August 2, 2013; 11:15 AM

http://wiki.answers.com/Q/Who_are_the_biggest_alcohol_drinkers_in_the_worl
d date retrieved: January 23, 2014; 8:00PM
http://sphweb.bumc.bu.edu/otlt/MPH-Modules/SB/SB721-Models/SB721Models_print.html date retrieved: January 24, 2014; 7:00PM
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alcohol_and_religionlcoholism date retrieved:
January 24, 2014; 7:00PM
http://www.ed.psu.edu/educ/news/2009-news-items/study-substance-abuse
date retrieved: January 24, 2014; 7:30PM
http://www.gallup.com/poll/163787/drinkers-divide-beer-wine-favorite.aspx
date retrieved: February 11, 2014, 2:15PM
http://www.northwestern.edu/alcohol-resources/media/pdfs/impactonap.pdf:
date retrieved: February 11, 2014, 2:45PM