Mobile Application Intervention Targeting the High Risk Drinking Practice of Prepartying

The primary objective of the research study is to develop and test a prepartying (aka "pregaming") specific brief mobile app intervention that is intended to help college students reduce their prepartying drinking behavior. Such behavior has been identified as a major contributor to alcohol-related negative consequences among young people. The investigators will first develop the intervention content based on theory and research supporting mechanisms of change in brief interventions with college students and document normative drinking information from 500 college students for inclusion in the intervention content. Investigators will then beta test the intervention with a sample of 14 heavy drinking college students. Focus group feasibility and acceptability feedback will inform the final intervention content. Investigators will then pilot test the mobile-based intervention in a randomized controlled trial of 500 college students who preparty frequently (n = 250 intervention, n = 250 attention control) and determine the efficacy of the intervention on (1) preventing heavy consumption levels during and after prepartying and on (2) reducing students' global levels of heavy drinking and consequences one and three months post-intervention.