2008 Woodie Awards
21 shots on 21st birthday ritual becoming popular celebration
Web sites like YouTube feature videos documenting events
Antonia Donato
Issue date: 4/18/08 Section: News
According to recent research, the drinking ritual of downing 21 or more drinks on one's 21st birthday is more common than expected among college students. Studies show students are becoming likely to participate in the ritual because of social-networking sites, such as YouTube or Flickr, where people can recreate their 21st birthday celebrations by posting videos of taking 21 shots.
Kenneth Sher, professor of psychological sciences at the University of Missouri-Columbia and director of the research project, said the study was part of a five-year survey in which students were asked questions about their drinking experiences. His study has had the largest sample to date, with the most honest responses from students.
Sher said he studied students before they started college in the spring of their junior year or the fall of their senior year, and asked them how many drinks they consumed on their 21st birthdays.
"We found that the majority of students - about 83 percent - reported using alcohol," Sher said. "The average number of drinks was 12.5, and we actually found that a quarter of females and a third of males attempted drinking 21 or more."
He said the popularity of posting videos on sites such as YouTube and Flickr are a big influence on students who attempt the "21 on 21" ritual. They are a way for students to show the world what they did on their 21st birthday.
"It's kind of like an advertisement of the behavior. YouTube lets anyone be the producer of their own movie, so it's a way of someone starring in it," Sher said. "I think most people use it to help recreate the evening because of blackouts. I suspect that some of the technology we have now reinforces it."
Sher said he realizes studies prove the level of drinking among students has increased over the years, mainly due to games and events associated with drinking, including beer pong and flip cup.
He said he thinks college drinking has always been heavy, but with some of the extreme drinking, the prevalence is higher because of drinking events that take place.
Kenneth Sher, professor of psychological sciences at the University of Missouri-Columbia and director of the research project, said the study was part of a five-year survey in which students were asked questions about their drinking experiences. His study has had the largest sample to date, with the most honest responses from students.
Sher said he studied students before they started college in the spring of their junior year or the fall of their senior year, and asked them how many drinks they consumed on their 21st birthdays.
"We found that the majority of students - about 83 percent - reported using alcohol," Sher said. "The average number of drinks was 12.5, and we actually found that a quarter of females and a third of males attempted drinking 21 or more."
He said the popularity of posting videos on sites such as YouTube and Flickr are a big influence on students who attempt the "21 on 21" ritual. They are a way for students to show the world what they did on their 21st birthday.
"It's kind of like an advertisement of the behavior. YouTube lets anyone be the producer of their own movie, so it's a way of someone starring in it," Sher said. "I think most people use it to help recreate the evening because of blackouts. I suspect that some of the technology we have now reinforces it."
Sher said he realizes studies prove the level of drinking among students has increased over the years, mainly due to games and events associated with drinking, including beer pong and flip cup.
He said he thinks college drinking has always been heavy, but with some of the extreme drinking, the prevalence is higher because of drinking events that take place.
Viewing Comments 1 - 1 of 1
Ed Bayley
posted 4/18/08 @ 10:08 PM EST
I'm not surprised. Colleges across the US have become innovators in substance culture. It's a shame since the purpose of attending college should be to grow intellectually and to fix and refine aspirations. (Continued…)
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