자료 분석 방법Purpose: This study was conducted to identify the consumption of alcohol as well as to compare drinking refusal self-efficacy and mental health between an average drinking group and a problem drinking group of Korean nursing students. Methods: A questionnaire using the Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test (AUDIT) measuring drinking refusal self-efficacy and mental health was given to 938 students of two universities in Gyeongsangnam-do. Results: Among the respondents 381 (40.6%) were problem drinkers. The score of alcohol consumption in the AUDIT were 3.38 for the average group and 12.50 for the problem drinking group. There were significant differences between the average group and problem drinking group in age, living place, smoking, parent's drinking, age of the first drink and reasons for first drink. Participants of the average group had significantly higher drinking refusal self-efficacy than the problem drinking group. Regarding mental health, there were differences between the two groups in attempted suicide. The risk factors significantly associated with problem drinking were living place, smoking and reasons for the initial drink. Conclusion: These results provide guidance for developing strategies, such as an educational program, to promote safe alcohol consumption in nursing students.