Increasing Availability of and Engagement in Alcohol-Free Social Activities to Address Heavy Episodic Drinking and Alcohol Consequences Among Fraternity and Sorority College Students

The negative impact of heavy episodic drinking (HED) among college students continues to be a major public health issue, and students who are members of fraternities and sororities (Greek members) are at particularly greater risk for experiencing negative alcohol consequences due to frequent HED. This study integrates developmental and behavioral economic models of alcohol use to test an environmental approach to reducing alcohol-related harm among Greek members. Within the Greek community, chapters will plan and offer alcohol-free social activities for their chapter members to attend, providing alternatives to drinking events for building social connections. To increase usability and contextual fit, the program of alcohol-free social activities was developed and refined in collaboration with Greek members. The pilot trial is focused on evaluating the feasibility and acceptability of the intervention but will also evaluate changes in heavy episodic drinking and alcohol consequences using a pre-post design, with data collected across two consecutive academic years. Members of participating chapters will provide baseline data during Year 1 and receive the intervention during Year 2.