Open Door Retreat

A recent study from The University of Texas at Austin shows that college students drink larger amounts of alcohol on football game days than on other well-known drinking days like New Year’s Eve and Halloween.

Psychologists found that women, particularly lighter drinkers, were more likely to engage in risky behaviors following alcohol consumption. The study appears in the November issue of Addictive Behaviors.

“Most events associated with heavy drinking occur only once a year, such as Spring Break, or once in a lifetime, such as a 21st birthday, but the weekly football schedule presents students with more regular opportunities to drink,” said psychologist Kim Fromme, an author of the paper and director of the university’s Studies on Alcohol, Health and Risky Activities Laboratory.

The researchers found students were especially likely to drink more during high-profile games against conference or national rivals. However, the increased drinking rates only occurred when students were actually on campus.

“These results indicate drinking is connected not only to the game itself, but to the social context associated with the event,” Fromme said.

This only proves what so many addicts already know – social context can make or break your recovery. That is why it is important at the beginning of recovery to remove yourself from the places and activities your body is used to. By starting new habits in a new place, you are essentially giving yourself a little headstart!