Social norms: actual versus perceived alcohol consumption of college freshmen

The purpose of this study was to explore the relationship between the actual frequency of alcohol consumption of college freshmen (n = 84) and the students residential status. The participants consisted of fifty-six resident students and twenty-eight commuter students. The frequency of alcohol consumption by students in general as perceived by the participants was also analyzed. The secondary purpose was explore a relationship between actual alcohol drinking norms and perceived alcohol drinking norms. The Campus Survey of Alcohol and Other Drug Norms were administered and analyzed using basic tables. Results demonstrated that freshmen resident students consume alcohol at a greater frequency than the freshmen commuter students. Results also demonstrated that the frequency of alcohol consumption by students in general as perceived by the participants was greater than the participants\u27 actual alcohol consumption