Alcohol can distract you from your academic goals and even impact your GPA. In fact, students who reported binge drink (men consume 5 or more drinks or women consume 4 or more drinks in about 2 hours) more than twice a week, GPA can decrease on average by .15 points.1 Negative consequences of drinking, like hangovers and generally being tired after a late night out, can cause you to lose study time and make your less prepared for your classes. One night of heavy drinking can impact your cognitive functions (concentration, memory, attention) for up to 48 hours. This means that a night of partying on Friday or Saturday night can impact your performance even while you are in class the next week.

Additionally, alcohol interrupts your sleep patterns and prevents you from entering REM sleep (NIH). REM sleep is where your brain consolidates memories and stores all the information you learned during the day. So if you drink after a hard day of work, some of your progress may be lost. If you’re interested in learning more about alcohol and sleep visit the Sleep Foundation website.

All incoming undergraduate students are required to complete AlcoholEdu to learn more about alcohol safety. Don't delay or will get a hold on your account.

1Pascarella, E.T., Goodman, K.M., Seifert, T.A., Tagliapietra-Nicoli, G., Park, S., Whitt, E.J. (2007). College Student Binge Drinking and Academic Achievement: A Longitudinal Replication and Extension. Journal of College Student Development, 48(6), 715-727.)