The majority of people, particularly college students, drink alcohol not because of its taste, but to get drunk, a study found.

“They intend to get intoxicated,” Scott Geller, a psychologist and professor from the University of Virginia, was quoted as saying by USA Today. 

Although the individual may be well aware that drinking too much alcohol can have bad consequences, it is hard to stop them if they want to get intoxicated, he said.

The study, which Geller conducted since the mid-1980s, showed students drink to feel tipsy and deviate from their ordinary routine. This makes it hard to control drinking using education, Geller said at the annual meeting of the American Psychological Association in Washington D.C. held earlier this month.

Geller pointed out that alcohol education should be carried out concentrating on relieving stress from the reality that imprisons student’s freedom and impulse.

However, alcoholic drinks can be a breakthrough and give sexual freedom to women because there are limitations on women’s sexual voice in real lives, another study presented at the conference showed.

Other findings showed that alcohol can make students more social and adventurous.

Thomas Vander Ven, professor of sociology and anthropologist at Ohio State University said when many people are intoxicated together, fun and exciting things can happen.

According to his research of 400 students, the majority replied that even though they can have negative experiences due to drinking alcohol, the help and care they receive afterwards from friends is seen as positive.


By Kim Do-yeon
(doyeonkim21@gmail.com)
Intern reporter