The association between alcohol-related arrests and college football game days

Abstract

Binge drinking has been tied to specific occasions, such as certain holidays and sporting events. However, previous research has relied almost exclusively upon self-reports of university students to document these associations. In order to address this limitation, the present study examined patterns of alcohol-related offenses occurring within the context of holidays and collegiate football games. Public arrest records from a university town with a successful NCAA Division I football program were examined for 30 days: 10 holidays, 10 college football “home game” days, and 10 control days. In total, 944 arrests were associated with the 30 study days. Results indicated football game days were associated with the highest number of arrests (F= 24.76, 2/27 df, p < .001). Specifically, on average there were 70.3 (SD = 35.4) arrests on each football game day, compared to 12.3 (SD = 8.8) arrests on non-game “control Saturdays,” and 11.8 (SD = 6.3) arrests on holidays. Offenses committed on game days generally occurred closer to the football stadium than crimes committed on holidays or control days (F = 165.05, 2/941 df, p < .001). Though efforts have been made to combat excessive drinking on holidays, more effort is needed to address the significant binge drinking among students and other spectators that is associated with high profile collegiate sporting events.

Alcohol consumption associated with collegiate American football pre-game festivities

“…Recent studies have suggested that collegiate American football games, in particular, represent a significant risk for heavy episodic drinking and related criminal activity, especially at universities where football success is highly-valued (Glassman et al, 2007; Neal and Fromme, 2007; Nelson and Wechsler, 2003; Merlo et al, 2010). While many American football fans are not affiliated with the universities, most studies have focused only on student alcohol consumption.…”

Football Events and Their Association with Interpersonal Violence Deaths

“…Late-night alcohol drinking and violence commonly occur after football events. 1,5,22 This could affect the incidence of homicides the day after football; these days were indicated and included in the analyses. In addition, we accounted for an overall trend during 2005 to 2008 by including two fractional polynomials, and we accounted for seasonality by including a sine-cosine pair with annual periodicity.…”

State Patty’s Day

“…This research suggests that homicide, disorderly conduct, and violent crime increase on certain major holidays (Cohn & Rotton, 2003; Lester, 1979; Rotton & Cohn, 2004). One study in a college town suggested that crime on holidays traditionally associated with alcohol use (e.g., New Year’s, St. Patrick’s Day) did not differ from non-holiday, non-football Saturdays (Merlo, Hong, & Cottler, 2010). However, the majority of holidays in that study occurred during university breaks, when many students were away.…”