Just a First-Year Thing? The Relations between Drinking During Orientation Week and Subsequent Academic Year Drinking Across Class Years

Background: The goal of Orientation Week is to help new students adjust to university life. However, it is a period when many new students engage in excessive alcohol consumption and where problematic drinking patterns may be established. Objective: The objective is to determine whether returning students drink in a similar manner to students in their first-year of classes and whether Orientation Week drinking predicts semester drinking more strongly for first-year than returning students. Methods: We tested 552 students (18 to 25 years old) in their first, second, or third class year of university. Students reported their Orientation Week drinking and then completed daily drinking diaries for 13 consecutive days during the academic year. Results: Orientation Week drinking was similar across class years and also predicted academic year drinking for students in all class years. Conclusion/Importance: Drinking during Orientation Week is not just a first-year problem and prevention efforts should focus on all students.