Study: Here\'s the Real Reason College Students Drink

According to the National Survey of Drug Use and Health, 58% of full-time college students drink, but until now, it’s been unclear as to exactly why that is.????VO-logo/??Well a new study that will be published in the journal Alcoholism: Clinical and Experimental Research may have answered that question.????VO-college campus/swab??Researchers looked at data from nearly 755 college students with randomly assigned roommates who took part in a survey and received a mouth swab for genetic data.????VO-drunks on a couch/dna??And they found that while a roommate’s drinking habits and genetic predisposition to drinking did affect overall consumption-????VO-chatting campus/thought bubble drinking??It was actually the perception of peers drinking habits, or how much they thought their friends were drinking, that was the biggest influencer.????VO-cheers??According to the studies lead author, Rebecca Smith:????VO-’’??"Interestingly, we found that perceptions -- how much you think your friends are drinking -- matters most.”????VO-drinking??And that factor was even more influential than if your roommate was actually drinking.????VO-VCU logo/campus??At Virginia Commonwealth University, where the study was conducted, the University’s wellness center has begun placing flyers in the school’s public restrooms-????VO-college drinking??Providing survey results about how many people are actually drinking on its campus; hoping to correct over-estimations of peers drinking habits.

????VO??But a little pamphlet is probably going to have a hard time undoing the effects of movies like old school.

????VO-Will ferrel chugging beer??“You know what gimme that thing I’ll do one… fill it up again!”????