The Effects of Alcohol Consumption On Academic Performance: A Literature Review
The Effects of Alcohol Consumption On Academic Performance: A Literature Review
The Effects of Alcohol Consumption On Academic Performance: A Literature Review
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ABSTRACT: Alcohol consumption is known to be an addiction that provides negative outcomes mainly on
health, excessive drinking of alcohol brings adverse effects on human health, also on activities that focus on
school performance. This research aims to examine the link between alcohol use and the academic success of
high school students. The results of the related studies were carried out and found that binge drinking of alcohol
brings adverse effects and negative impacts on the academic attainment of undergraduate learners. The findings
of this paper recommend that daily consultation is suggested to reduce the addiction to alcohol drinking and
enhance students' work rate in their academic success. These findings validated that drinking alcohol brings
negative outcomes on students’ health and in their learning areas.
I. INTRODUCTION
Overindulgence in alcohol is a widespread harmful habit globally, and it is a particularly prevalent
issue among young people who view alcohol as a form of leisure activity [1]. Consumption of alcohol among
scholars is generally perceived as socially important content and is a reason for worries among numerous
parents and academy directors. The drinking patterns of young students tend to be inconsistent and fluctuate
depending on the season and days of the week. In actuality, a pattern of consistent drinking must be established
in adulthood before it can be classified as a dependence issue [2]. Previous studies indicated that alcohol
consumption has a detrimental effect on the academic performance of students, as it can make it difficult for
them to manage their academic responsibilities and social life, leading to a high risk of dropping out or failing
classes. Excessive alcohol consumption has also been associated with negative health impacts, including
automobile crashes, accidental injuries, and fatalities. On the negative, some inquiries have shown that drinking
alcohol has no notable effect on the pupil’s performance [3]. The dangers of excessive or binge drinking not
only affect the drinkers themselves, but also those around them [4]. A widely accepted and comprehensive
indicator of academic performance among high school students is their Grade Point Average or GPA [5]. Only
many studies have studied the connection between alcohol input and GPA. Commonly, binge drinking and
alcohol-related goods in council scholars constitute serious enterprises in several countries. Similar data have
revealed that, in advanced education, there is a high degree of association between undergraduate students'
alcohol consumption and their academic performance, with higher levels of alcohol use being associated with
lower levels of academic achievement. [6].
A study in the United States investigated the impact of alcohol binge drinking and students' self-
reported GPA. By performing separate regression analysis using OLS with marijuana and alcohol use as
variables, and joint regression analysis with both drugs as variables. It was discovered that both of these
variables affected students' GPAs. Previous studies have demonstrated the widespread use of alcohol among
college students, with many participating in drinking [7]. According to the paper by Balsa, Gandelman, and
Roldán [8], the extent to which the influence of peers and parents on adolescent drinking behavior and academic
achievement are related, and whether one group has a greater impact than the other. They also looked at how
these two factors interact and whether they complement or replace each other. In that study, an average of test
scores was used to proxy intellectual capabilities, and an assessment of the rate of alcohol intake in the previous
30 days was used to proxy risky behavior. For both males and females, the likelihood of having average or
above-average academic performance decreases significantly as the frequency of reported alcohol consumption
per month increases, when compared to those who do not drink. Furthermore, when compared to non-drinkers,
the likelihood of having average or above-average academic performance significantly decreased with higher
alcohol consumption. Additionally, the likelihood of having average or above-average academic performance
only decreases significantly when there is a frequency of severe alcohol intoxication of 1-2 days per month [9].
Based on the study's findings, a huge percentage of respondents were between the ages of 15 and 35, when
dangerous behavior like heavy alcohol use is widespread. The main reasons for drinking alcohol, are for fun,
staying awake, and courage (being able to interact with lecturers and convey a public talk). Students consume
alcohol to cope with stress, stay alert for late-night studying, or as a form of self-treatment for illness. The study
found that the participants are individuals who drink alcohol frequently, both daily and weekly. As a result,
contrive means to consume the substance, without which life is devoid of the happiest. The study found that the
majority of participants consumed more bottles of alcohol in a single sitting, which could be considered alcohol
abuse. A previous study investigated the impact of alcohol drinking on students' academic performance [10].
Onyebuchukwu, Sholarin, and Chico [11] conducted a study with 30 students to assess the dependability and
accuracy of the study's survey instruments. The study included 200 participants, 114 males and 86 females
ranging in age from 13 to 25 years. The study indicates that there's a strong link between alcohol consumption
and academic performance, a notable contrast in academic outcomes between drinkers and non-drinkers, and
alcohol has a significant impact on academic performance. In Finland, a significant portion of students reported
consuming alcohol for extended periods and in large quantities (46% and 50%, respectively). Additionally, a
high percentage of students reported drinking frequently (41%), excessive drinking (66%), problematic drinking
(29%), and possible alcohol dependence (9%). After adjusting for other variables, gender was related to all
alcohol use behaviors, followed by a level of religiosity (related to different alcohol behaviors), living situation,
civil status, age (each associated with alcohol behavior patterns), and parental involvement and year of study
[12]. A large percentage of students (68%) believe that alcohol rehabilitation facilities are available on campus.
This indicates that the institution's caregivers were aware of the poor reputation of alcohol consumption long
before the CHE inspection revealed the problem. For some rationale, the problem has been left to fester and is
clearly out of control. A significant number of students are terrified as a result of drunken students' behavior.
However, after taking into consideration unobserved factors and controlling for them, the results showed that
binge drinking can have a slightly negative impact on academic performance, particularly for risk-averse
students, who focused on their future and abstain from drug use [13]. More research is needed to determine
whether there is a link between those who live in fear and educational attainment. However, it would not be
unfair to conclude that this state of mind is likely to provide fertile ground for poor performance. Students
should never be permitted to consume alcohol in a learning environment. Universities must take a strong stance
to ensure that their campuses are alcohol-free zones. The prohibition of alcohol on campus necessitates regular
policing. It is crucial to enforce strict laws regulating alcohol in universities to reduce the negative impact of
alcohol [14]. This is because the effects of alcohol are determined by the duration and amount consumed - the
negative impact on student's cognitive abilities, as measured by academic performance, grows with an increase
in both the quantity and frequency of alcohol consumption [15]. This is a minor price to pay to ensure our
children's safety and success [16].
The purpose of this study is to examine the association between alcohol use (during the week or on
weekends) and the academic performance of students. And to identify the best set of significantly associated
variables for understanding students' final grades. The main objectives of this research are to determine the
impact of alcohol on students' final grades and to identify other key factors affecting their grades or school
performance.
II. METHODS
A literature review is an academic document that summarizes and evaluates the current research on a
specific topic, by considering the available literature in the field. A literature review examines books, scholarly
articles, and other relevant sources about a specific topic, area of study, or theory [17]. If you are short on time,
a review of the literature can serve as an overview for your investigation. Literature reviews are frequently the
most widely read and highly cited articles in both the journal and in general. This is because, when done
effectively, they offer a current overview of the state of knowledge on a subject and may or may not include a
statistical analysis of the data [18]. Instead of serving as a foundation for an individual researcher's work, it
creates a strong starting point for anyone in the community who is interested in a particular field or topic [19].
The extent and thoroughness of the literature review showcase the author's expertise and scholarly proficiency in
their field of study. These reviews also provide a solid foundation for the investigation of a paper or study.
The research covered in this paper spans the years 1987 to 2022. Additionally, the researcher selected this time
frame to appropriately evaluate the origin and reliability of the research topic being examined, which had
previously been examined by several other researchers. The related studies in the research focus on the impact
of alcohol consumption on students' academic achievement.
Outcomes in the first objective that is shown in the table above are that alcohol consumption is having
a detrimental effect on some students and families, leading to a potential increase in dropouts and poor academic
performance [20]. It is very important to examine the level of alcohol consumption or intake and to understand
its harmful effects on human health as mentioned in Table 1. The consumption of alcohol harms human health
throughout one's life. Previous studies have linked alcohol consumption to numerous diseases including cancer,
pancreatitis, liver cirrhosis, tuberculosis, pneumonia, diabetes mellitus, alcohol use disorder, cancers, psychiatric
conditions, and injury [21]. The negative effects of drinking alcohol during childhood and adolescence far
outweigh the few positive impacts. It's likely that postponing the start of alcohol consumption and reducing the
amount consumed by young individuals will improve their health and overall well-being (Birch, et al., 2009).
These objectives explore areas that affect the factor of alcoholism.
(Balsa, Gandelman, & We use an average of test results to proxy cognitive abilities, and we use a measure
Roldán, 2018) of the frequency of alcohol dependence in the previous 30 days to proxy risky
behavior. Our data come from a sample of ten private high schools' 9th and 10th-
grade students.
(Sung, So, & Jeong, We discovered a negative association between alcohol consumption and academic
2016) achievement in adolescents, even after controlling for covariates.
(Ukwayi, Lucy, Chibuzo, According to the findings of this study, the majority of respondents are between the
& Undelikwo, 2013) ages of 15 and 35, which is the age of unhealthy behaviors characterized by
substance use and abuse.
(Onyebuchukwu, The findings revealed a significant relationship between academic performance, a
Sholarin, & Chico, 2015) significant difference in academic performance between students who drink alcohol
and those who do not, and a significant effect of consumption on academic
performance.
(Meda, et al., 2017) On the whole, our findings add to the growing body of teenage years use literature by
demonstrating that the combined effects of alcohol and marijuana can jeopardize
college GPA.
(Meier, Hill, Small, & Even after controlling for 9th-grade GPA and externalizing symptoms, adolescents
Luthar, 2015) from an upper-middle-class institution who used cannabis had lower GPAs and more
projecting symptoms in 12th grade.
(Tembo, Burns, & A sizable proportion of participants (44%) reported drinking at dangerous or harmful
Kalembo, 2017) levels. Multiple logistic regression analysis revealed that students who consumed
dangerous amounts of alcohol were 1.2 times more likely to report psychological
distress than those who consumed less alcohol.
(Ansari, Salam, & Gender was associated with all alcohol behaviors after controlling for a living
Suominen, 2020) situation, marital status, age (all of which were associated with two behaviors),
parental education, and year of study (each associated with one behavior).
(Welwel, et al., 2022) Most students have been involved in accidents and injuries as a result of their
alcoholism, making them ill and unable to attend lectures.
(Evans-Whipp, Plenty, Six students were no longer in school at the time the Grade 9 survey was
Catalano, Herrenkohl, & administered, so they were excluded from the analysis. 44 students were removed
Toumbourou, 2013) from the sample based on honesty criteria.
(Patte, Qian, & Between students who had never binge drunk before, those who reported regular
Leatherdale, 2017) binge drinking at follow-up were less likely to complete their homework, attend
class, value, and achieve high grades, with more frequent binge drinking at follow-up
resulting in larger relative risk ratios.
(Andacao & Lad, 2021) The findings revealed that the student's overall level of alcohol consumption was
moderate, while their academic performance score was determined to be satisfactory.
Each of the outcomes defined a significant difference in college students' alcohol
consumption.
The studies by Balsa et al. [8], Bolin et al. [22], Meda et al. [23], and Meier et al. )[24] show that the
GPA of students is greatly affected by alcohol intake. It's important to comprehend the connection between
teenage alcohol consumption and high school grades, given the widespread use of alcohol among this age group
and recent research on adolescent brain development, which suggests that excessive alcohol use during this
period can have negative impacts on brain development[25[, [26]. On the other hand, studies of Ansari et al. [6],
Sung et al. [9], Onyebuchukwu et al. [11], Tembo et al. 27], Welwel et al. [28], and Patte et al. [29] found that
alcohol consumption has adverse negative adverse effects on the student’s academic performance. Those who
frequently engage in binge drinking are more likely to miss classes and fall behind in their studies [30]. Previous
research has also shown that alcohol consumption not only poses a threat to one's health but also leads to
significant social harm such as alcoholism and traffic accidents [31]. Additionally, based on these studies,
alcohol abuse can lead to health problems, which can further negatively impact academic performance. The
research examines multiple potential reasons for alcohol's negative impact on academic performance. Along
with examining mediators connected to educational attendance, it looks into how drinking affects a student's
ability to concentrate and stick to their academic goals [8].
This highlights the importance of making a concerted effort to find effective prevention and
intervention strategies to address this issue [32]. Studies by Sung et al. [9], Ukwayi et al. [33], Onyebuchukwu
et al. [11], Welwel et al. (2022) and Andacao and Lad [34] suggested that providing consultation and recovery
programs for students for them to do better on their academic performances that affected by alcohol drinking.
Investigating the impact of alcohol consumption on the academic performance of college students will result in
proposals for reducing alcohol consumption among [35] student drinkers. The table above that contains different
recommendations from other studies that are related to this study implying that drinking alcohol has a greater
Multidisciplinary Journal www.ajmrd.com Page | 81
The Effects of Alcohol Consumption on Academic Performance: A Literature Review
impact mainly on the health of people and the academic performance of learners. These results align more with
the notion that peers influence individuals' preferences rather than limiting their options [36]. These studies also
suggest that it affects and increased academic absence, and the probability of difficulty at school. These results
lay the foundation for a future research project that aims to determine if certain factors, such as support from a
healthy parent, self-control abilities, and other individual assets, can distinguish between a compensating and
decompensating response [37]. Prevention strategies are also mentioned in the recommendations above to
control drinking that harms learners’ health and performance. These recommendations help other ongoing
studies to set measures that can be taken. By providing specific and feasible suggestions, these
recommendations can facilitate the practical application of findings and promote positive change.
The extent of excessive drinking among students, as well as their comprehension of its effects on their bodies, is
a major public health concern around the world. It can lead to poor academic performance, absenteeism, and a
greater risk of dropping out. It may also cause physical and mental health issues, as well as social and
relationship problems. It is critical for educators and school administrators to recognize the signs of alcoholism
and to provide resources and support to students who are suffering from the disease. Furthermore, students
should be educated about the risks and dangers of alcohol abuse, as well as the resources available to them if
they or someone they know is struggling with alcoholism. For example, the results show that alcohol
consumption on workdays affects students' final grades, whereas alcohol consumption on weekends has no
effect [3]. According to the findings of the Balsa et al. [38] study, the primary assessment of academic
achievement is the student’s GPA which is extracted from official school transcripts. Increasing alcohol intake,
in contrast, is linked to self-reported academic stress in females. According to Sholarin et al. [39], universities
are no longer governed by their parents and are free to pursue their interests. This is evident as some
undergraduates go insane during their academic journey and some individuals experience memory impairment,
hindering their ability to graduate due to consistently poor academic performance [40].
IV. CONCLUSION
To conclude, alcohol consumption can have a negative impact on academic performance by impairing
cognitive function, increasing absenteeism, and decreasing motivation and focus. Long-term binge drinking can
also result in more serious consequences, such as academic expulsion and a lower chance of graduating. And
ensure optimal academic performance, it is generally advised to limit or avoid alcohol consumption while in
school.
As a result of these findings, it is generally recommended that alcohol consumption be limited or avoided to
maintain academic performance. Alcohol can impair cognitive function, memory, and concentration, all of
which are necessary for academic success. Excessive alcohol consumption can also lead to poor decision-
making, which can lead to academic and personal problems. It's also worth noting that excessive alcohol
consumption can lead to addiction and serious health problems. As a result, it is best to limit or avoid alcohol
consumption while at school.
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