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Alcohol and Academics

Alcohol affects a person's abstract thinking, a style of thinking in which concepts and ideas are understood and later applied in problem solving. Abstract thinking is required to solve puzzles, understand a person's motivations, figure out story problems, and excel academically. A person who drinks to the point of intoxication may experience impaired abstract thinking. This impairment may last for days or even weeks, depending on how much and how often the person drinks.

About 25 percent of college students nationally report academic consequences of their drinking, including missing class, falling behind, doing poorly on exams or papers, and receiving lower grades overall.¹ In addition to self-reported negative consequences, recent research has shown a modest negative relationship between alcohol consumption and academic achievement. The negative effect of alcohol on academics was most notable among those students who ranked as high academic performers during their high school years.²

1. Engs et al., 1996; Presley et al., 1996, Wechsler et al., 2002
2. Wood MD et al., 2000

Impairment Risks and Academics at UGA

53.4% of students reported missing a class because of alcohol use
33.4% reported performing poorly on a test or project because of alcohol use
48.2% reported experiencing memory loss because of alcohol use
39.7% reported that alcohol use by other students interrupts their studying
25% percent of college students nationwide report academic consequences of their drinking including missing class, falling behind, doing poorly on exams or papers, and receiving lower grades overall

Sources: Engs et all, 1996; Presley et al., 1996; Wechsler et al., 2002
UGA CORE survey 2005

*Remember: To Reduce Academic Impairment Risks Related to Alcohol, Follow 0-1-3!