Campus Alcohol Data
UHS collects data on student health and wellbeing through a variety of surveys and studies. The Alcohol, Tobacco, and Other Drug Prevention team uses these data to guide our campus prevention efforts in these areas and help track trends and progress to ensure programs and resources are available to meet student needs.
What Our Data Shows
- 37% of UW-Madison undergraduates drink at high-risk levels (NCHA, 2024).
- Almost 60% of undergraduate students report drinking in the past 2 weeks (NCHA, 2024).
High-risk drinking is defined as 4 or more drinks (female) or 5 or more drinks (male) in one day.
- White students participate in high-risk drinking at a rate 50% higher than students of color (Healthy Minds Survey, 2022).
- White cisgender students drink at higher rates than students of color and gender diverse students (Healthy Minds Survey, 2022).
- Students of color report lower feelings of safety and psychological wellbeing on campus (Color of Drinking, 2023).
- 63% of undergraduate students drink in low quantities or not at all (NCHA, 2024). In fact, 40% of incoming first-year students report not using alcohol (AlcoholEdu, 2023).
- 98% of first-year students said they would respect and honor a student’s decision to be a non-drinker (AlcoholEdu, 2022).
- 77% of sexual assaults that involve force or incapacitation at UW-Madison also involve the use of alcohol (AAU, 2019).
- 10% of undergraduates have physically injured themselves while drinking (NHCA, 2021).
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About Our Data
AlcoholEdu
For more than 10 years, UW-Madison has administered AlcoholEdu, an online prevention education program required for all incoming first-year and transfer students. The program assesses alcohol knowledge and skill level as well as attitudes, beliefs, and behaviors around alcohol use.
Biennial Review
A review by UW-Madison on its alcohol and other drug prevention program to determine effectiveness and implement changes. This report incorporates data from the National College Health Assessment (NCHA) Survey, a nationally recognized research survey that provides precise data about students’ health habits, behaviors, and perceptions.
Healthy Minds Survey
The Healthy Minds Survey provides key statistics to understand the intersection of mental health and student success, with a goal of improving the climate around mental health by better understanding students’ needs and the issues that impact them. The survey was last conducted in 2022 and will be administered again in winter 2025.
Color of Drinking Study
The Color of Drinking Study examines the impacts of UW–Madison’s alcohol culture on undergraduate students, especially students of color. The survey was most recently conducted in 2023.