Alcohol Awareness for Parents of Young Adults and College Students

Alcohol is the most common drug used by young adults and college students. With the right conversations, parents and guardians can help them make better choices during this school year.  

Young Adults and Excessive Drinking

Drinking among young adults is a serious public health issue.  

Alcohol misuse can result in:

• Property damage
• Car crashes
• Violence
• Injury  
• Death  

Alcohol misuse can also increase the risk of sexual violence. Studies found that half of sexual violence incidents at college involved alcohol (PDF). Sexual assaults are more likely to happen in places where alcohol is consumed, such as a party or bar, but alcohol misuse should never be used to shift blame to a victim, even if they were drinking.

It is important to understand how common drinking is among young adults.  

In 2023-2024, young adults ages 18-25 in North Carolina reported that:  

• 50% drank alcohol  
• 28% engaged in binge drinking   

Other studies also found that:  

What Is Risky Alcohol Use?  

It is important to know that no amount of alcohol is safe. Each drink can increase the risk of harm.    

It is also important to understand what excessive drinking is.  

Excessive drinking includes:  

• Binge drinking: four or more drinks for women or five or more drinks for men in about two hours
• Heavy drinking: eight or more drinks for women or 15 or more drinks for men in one week  
• Any drinking during pregnancy  
• Any drinking by people younger than 21  

Remember, not all drinks are the same. Some contain enough alcohol to equal two or more standard drinks.

To see how many drinks are within a container, use the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism’s Drink Size Calculator.

Some College Students May Have a Higher Risk

Some college student groups may have higher risk of excessive drinking.

High-risk drinking can also affect school performance. Students who binge drink tend to earn lower grades.  

Prevention Strategies for Parents  

Parents can have a strong effect on whether their child drinks in young adulthood.  

Research shows that college students who choose not to drink often say that their parents talked with them about alcohol use and its risks. Read more: Harmful and Underage Drinking

In the US, the rate of drinking among young adults has dropped by 10%.  

In the last eight years, the National College Health Assessment reports that:  

• The percentage of college students who have ever consumed alcohol is down 9%.  
• The percentage of students who have dangerous drinking patterns that may lead to early health or social problems is down 12%.  

Even though drinking trends are declining, it is still important to talk with your children about alcohol.

Get more information below on how to talk to your children about the risks of alcohol.  

Read more: How Alcohol Impacts Young People 

Learn more about excessive drinking: Reducing Excessive Alcohol Use to Build Healthier North Carolina Communities

More Resources

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