UNC-CH Color of Drinking Project

The Color of Drinking survey investigates the influence of the alcohol culture at the University of North Carolina – Chapel Hill (UNC-CH) on the experiences of undergraduate students belonging to diverse communities, including people of color and LGBTQ+ students. Adapted from the Color of Drinking Study at the University of Wisconsin – Madison (UW-Madison), this research aims to comprehend the perceptions and experiences of undergraduate students, with a specific focus on LGBTQ+ individuals and students of color, in the context of alcohol culture at a predominantly white institution. Additionally, the study examines secondhand harms encountered by these populations. Out of 1,788 survey participants, 1,465 responses were analyzed, revealing that students, particularly those of color and LGBTQ+, acknowledged the harmful effects of the alcohol culture at UNC-CH on their mental health and safety. While some expressed positive experiences, negative harms were disproportionately experienced by students of color and LGBTQ+ students, who reported drinking less compared to their white, non-LGBTQ+ counterparts.