Changes in alcohol consumption with entrance into college

College campus alcohol-related interventions could be informed by a better understanding of the escalation in alcohol consumption that occurs when many students enter college. Changes in alcohol consumption from the 11th grade to the freshmen college year were retrospectively assessed in a sample of 74 freshmen students. The Lifetime Drinking History (LDH) structured interview was used to identify changes in consumption frequency, typical quantity consumed, and maximum quantity consumed over the transitional period from high school to college. An increase in consumption was expected and the magnitude of the consumption increase was expected to be associated with several variables: initial consumption level; age of first consumption; gender; affiliation with fraternities/sororities; and beliefs regarding normative drinking. The test-retest reliability of the LDH was also examined.;Results indicated a 187% increase in mean daily alcohol consumption from 0.6 to 1.6 standard drinks per day at mid-freshmen year. Substantial increases in consumption were reported by 4 out of 5 drinkers, with one out of every three drinkers at least doubling their alcohol consumption over this period. A repeated measures ANOVA indicated significant increases in frequency, typical quantity and maximum quantity. The time periods of greatest risk for increase were identified. By the end of high school, the majority of drinkers (60%) met criteria for heavy drinking and the proportion increased with entrance into college to 79%.;A two-stage analysis was used to examine the relationship between hypothesized predictor variables and magnitude of change in consumption. Individual linear regressions were performed with monthly consumption (quantity or frequency) as the dependent variable and time as the independent variable. Next, the standardized regression coefficients from these regressions were entered as the dependent variables in multiple regressions with the predictor variables. Increase in frequency of consumption was predicted by higher typical quantities but lower maximum quantities in high school, later age of drinking onset, perception of college friends' drinking as heavier, and past beliefs that college students drank less frequently. Greater increases in quantity were predicted by more frequent high school drinking, later age of drinking onset, past beliefs of lower college drinking frequency, and perception of college friends' drinking as heavier. Mixed results were found regarding gender. The implications of the results for alcohol-related intervention programs are discussed.