Second-Hand Effects

Students who do not drink, or who drink in a low-risk way, experience secondhand effects from others' excessive use. These consequences include fights, interpersonal violence, unwanted sexual advances, and sexual assault. It is estimated that each year 600,000 college students aged 18 to 24 are assaulted by another student who has been drinking, and 70,000 college students aged 18 to 24 are victims of alcohol-related sexual assault or date rape*. Other second-hand effects include disrupted sleep and study, time spent "baby sitting" intoxicated friends, and damaged property. Clearly, the entire University community is touched by these consequences. All students, whether they misuse alcohol or not, and their parents, faculty, and members of the surrounding community feel the effects of high-risk drinking.

High-risk alcohol use affects not only high-risk drinkers, but also those who choose not to drink and those who drink in a low-risk way. This is what UGA students have to say about the second-hand effects of high risk alcohol use:

39.7% reported that others' drinking interrupts their studying
36% reported that others' drinking messes up their space
15.1% reported that others' drinking makes them feel unsafe
23.3% reported that others' drinking prevents enjoyment of activities
7.6% reported that others' drinking adversely affects group activity
36.6% reported that others' drinking interferes in other ways

Sources: Hingson et al., 2002; UGA CORE Survey, 2005