The impact of a tailgating policy on students' drinking behavior and perceptions

In the fall of 2004, a midwestern public university changed its tailgating policy from one that did not allow alcohol consumption to one that did.

The authors surveyed students before and after the policy change to measure consumption, problems, perceptions of peer consumption, and reported game attendance.

Results showed no change in drinking quantities or prevalence of problems after the policy change; however, there was an increase in students' misperceptions, with students overestimating drinking quantities and the number of students who drank while tailgating. Last, students' predictions about their game attendance if alcohol was allowed were higher than their reported attendance after the policy change.

Conclusions suggest that although drinking quantities may not be influenced by policies at tailgating events, misperceptions may be influenced. Administrators should note that the policy did not affect students' self-reported game attendance.