For many University students, college is a time to experience new things. And for James Arruebarrena, history senior, that meant drinking. “I drank in high school, maybe once, but I just didn’t really have the opportunity to,” Arruebarrena said. “I lived at home; I was a good student. I wasn’t interested in it.” Four years later, Arruebarrena now drinks three to four nights a week. “I have a lot of friends who drink now,” Arruebarrena said. “I like to go out and drink and have a good time.” Some University students think people who did not drink in high school are more likely to indulge once they reach college. “They’re more likely to do it since they’ve never tried it,” said Meredith Cook, anthropology junior. “If they understand how it affects them before they get to college, they’re more likely to know how to handle themselves.” But this was not the case for Arruebarrena. “I thought I would experiment with it, but I had no idea I would drink as much as I do now,” Arruebarrena said. But Arruebarrena’s drinking pattern is actually in the minority. In 2006, researchers at the Harvard School of Public Health found that college students who did not binge drink in high school were less likely to binge drink in college. This study defined binge drinking as consuming four or more drinks on one occasion for females and consuming five or more drinks per occasion for males. Aaron Yglesias, industrial engineering junior, was surprised by these findings. “There’s so much drinking around campus; it’s one of the biggest social activities,” Yglesias said. “If you’re a new student coming in, you’re pretty likely to get wrapped up in drinking.” But Kathy Saichuck, Wellness Education coordinator at the Health Center, agreed with the findings. “Students are likely to continue to adhere to the habits they’ve established in high school,” Saichuck said. The study found that parents’ drinking habits can affect how much a student drinks in college. College students whose parents disapprove of drinking are less likely to binge drink in college. Jennifer Loisel, elementary education junior, had a different opinion. “My dad drinks a lot, but I didn’t drink until I turned 21,” Loisel said. “My dad thinks that we actually didn’t drink as much because of how much he drank.” Loisel also said parents putting restrictions on their kids could have negative effects. “[It seems like] people who have strict parents would go crazy in college, thinking that they can do it now because they don’t have parental authority,” Loisel said. Arruebarrena said his parents expected him not to drink in high school. “Neither of my parents drink, and they really didn’t want me to drink,” Arruebarrena said. “They would have been disturbed if I drank in high school.” Saichuck said there are instances of parents putting too many restrictions on their children before they enter college. “I know there are those students who are held under too tight of control in high school,” Saichuck said. “These students are more likely to engage in high-risk behavior.” Saichuck said there’s a safe way for parents to introduce their children to drinking in high school. “I think there is a way to introduce alcohol into a lifestyle responsibly,” Saichuck said. “Parents just need to be open and honest.” Arruebarrena said he has no regrets about his drinking habits and how they have progressed. “I’m glad I didn’t drink in high school,” Arruebarrena said. “I like the way it developed. I got to college, and drinking is just a different stage and a different experience.”
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