These analyses were motivated, in part, by the growing interest in binge drinking on college campuses, and arguments from some quarters that binge drinking among college students is linked to changes in the minimum legal drinking age. Our trend analyses documented no changes among 18–20 year old college students, but strong increases among 21–23 year old college women. Also of note, these trends suggest a growing contrast in binge drinking behavior between college students and other young adults. For example, binge drinking among high-school seniors is currently at a historic low, more than 1/3 lower than its peak in 1979–1983.37, 38 Yet binge drinking among college men has seen little or no improvement since 1979, and has probably risen for college women. Moreover, binge-drinking increases among college-women have outpaced their non-student peers in the 21–23 year age range. Hence, binge drinking among college men is as prevalent as ever, and binge drinking among college women has increased in recent years.
