EXCESSIVE DRINKING OF ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGES AND

ITS EFFECT ON STUDENTS' ACADEMIC PERFORMANCE

A Research Capstone

Presented to:
Ms. Geraldine S. Calopez

In Partial Fulfilment of the Requirements in

By:
Vianele R. Alvarez
April 2025
 CHAPTER I

INTRODUCTION

Background of the Study

Academic performance is one of the most important indicators of a student's success and

future opportunities. Several factors, including psychological, social, and environmental

influences, can impact students' academic achievements. Among these, substance use,

particularly alcohol consumption, is a factor that has garnered considerable attention due to its

potential to negatively affect cognitive functioning, memory, and overall academic performance.

Research suggests that alcohol consumption, especially in adolescence and early adulthood,

can have detrimental effects on various aspects of a student's life, including their academic

achievements. While alcohol is often viewed as a socially acceptable substance, its overuse can

impair critical cognitive functions, including concentration, learning, and memory—key skills

necessary for academic success (DeWit, Adlaf, Offord, & Ogborne, 2000). Studies have shown

that heavy alcohol use is associated with poor academic performance, including lower grades,

absenteeism, and a lack of focus on studies (Sher & Rutledge, 2007).

A significant body of research has examined the impact of alcohol use on academic

performance, with some studies showing that alcohol consumption leads to lower GPAs and

reduced academic engagement. For instance, one study highlighted that alcohol consumption led

to small but significant decreases in GPA among male students, while females who engaged in

heavy drinking reported academic difficulties such as impaired study habits and concentration

(National Institutes of Health [NIH], 2011). These findings underscore the potential for alcohol

use to undermine students' educational outcomes.

complex and influenced by various factors, such as the frequency and quantity of alcohol

consumption, the timing of drinking episodes, and individual student characteristics (e.g., age,

socioeconomic status, and mental health) (Zamboanga, Schwartz, & Ham, 2010). Understanding

how alcohol consumption affects academic performance is crucial for developing effective

strategies to support students and mitigate the negative impacts on their learning experiences.

This study aims to explore the relationship between alcohol consumption and academic

performance among students, with the objective of identifying patterns, risks, and potential

interventions to improve student outcomes.

Statement of the Problem

This study examines the negative impact of alcohol addiction on students' grades and

future career prospects. Specifically, it seeks to answer the following questions:

1. What are the common factors or scenarios that leads students to prioritize alcoholic

beverages over academic responsibilities

2. How do alcoholic beverages impact students’ academic performance?

 Grades

 Attendance

 Cognitive functioning

3. What possible strategies can be implemented to help students avoid or reduce alcohol-

related academic struggles?

This study aims to test the following hypotheses:

Null Hypothesis (H₀):

drinking addiction does not affect students’ academic performance

Alternative Hypothesis (H₁):

drinking addiction negatively affects students’ academic performance

The research will examine if excessive drinking of alcoholic beverages leads to poor academic

performance and whether support programs can help reduce its impact

Assumptions of the Study

This study operates under the following assumptions:

1. Students who engage in excessive drinking of alcoholic beverages have difficulty

managing academic responsibilities

2. Students with drinking addiction experience behavioral and cognitive functioning

3. Environmental and Social factors contribute to students drinking addiction

This study is conducted to benefit the study

Students. This study matters to students aged 16-18 years old struggling with or at risk of

alcohol addiction. It shows how excessive drinking of alcoholic beverages can mess up their

grades, makes them more aware of how it affects their school goals, and suggests healthier ways

to cope and avoid becoming dependent on alcohol.

Teachers. This study can help them spot the signs of alcohol addiction and see how it hurts

students' grades. With this information, schools can create better support like counseling,

mentors, and stricter rules about alcohol on campus.

Parents and Guardians. This study will help parents understand why students turn to alcoholic

beverages and how it affects their schoolwork. Knowing this, parents can teach their kids about

drinking responsibly, talk openly about school stress, and offer support to help them avoid or

overcome addiction

Future Researchers. This study is just a starting point for more research on how drinking

messes with grades. While it's about senior high school students, future studies could look at

other age groups or schools. They could also check if student drinking problems affect their

careers later.
Scope and Delimitations

This study aims to examine the impact of excessive drinking of alcoholic beverages on

students' academic performance, with a particular focus on cognitive function, grades, and

attendance. The respondents consist of 35 senior high school students, both male and female,

aged 16 to 18 years old.

This study focuses solely on senior high school students. Its primary aim is to identify the

common challenges they face and suggest possible solutions to address these issues.

Definition of Terms

Academic Performance. The measurable success of a student in their educational activities,

including grades, attendance, and overall progress.

Alcoholic Beverages. Alcoholic beverages are drinks containing ethanol (ethyl alcohol), which

is produced through the fermentation of sugars and can have intoxicating effects.

Cognitive Abilities. Mental skills such as memory, attention, and problem-solving, which are

crucial for academic success.

Excessive Drinking. Excessive drinking refers to alcohol consumption patterns that exceed

recommended limits, including binge drinking (rapid intake to raise blood alcohol

concentration), heavy drinking (exceeding weekly or daily thresholds), underage drinking, all of

which pose significant health and safety risks.

Data. Information that is collected, observed, or created to support research findings

Effect. A change which is a result or consequence of an action or other cause.

Review of Related Literature

Related Literature

Local

1. "Alcohol Drinking Behavior Among High School Students in Low-Income

Urban Community Baguio City, Benguet Province, Philippines."

According Furiscal, E. T., Pancharuniti, N., & Keiwkarnka, B. (2008). alcohol drinking

behavior among high school students in a low-income urban community in Baguio City,

Philippines. A survey of 280 students found that 30.8% were drinkers, with males drinking more

than females. The common age of initiation was below 15-16 years old. Key factors influencing

alcohol consumption included gender, family influence, attitude toward drinking, and

affordability. Most drinkers consumed more than one bottle per day, with peer pressure and

stress relief as major reasons.

2. “Youth Alcohol Consumption and Academic Performance: A National Study”

According to the Department of Health (DOH) and the University of the Philippines

Population Institute (UPPI) (2018), youth alcohol consumption in the Philippines negatively

affects academic performance. The study found that frequent drinking leads to lower

concentration, increased absenteeism, and poor study habits. Key factors influencing alcohol use

include peer pressure, family environment, and accessibility. Heavy drinkers were more likely to

struggle with memory retention and perform poorly in school. The study emphasized the need
for school-based awareness programs, stricter alcohol regulations, and parental guidance to

mitigate these effects and support students’ academic success.

3. “Peer Influence and Alcohol Consumption Among Filipino High School

Students.”

According to the Ateneo Center for Educational Research (2019), peer influence is a major

factor in alcohol consumption among Filipino high school students. Students exposed to friends

who drink are more likely to engage in alcohol use, often as a way to fit in socially. This

behavior negatively affects academic performance, leading to lower grades, absenteeism, and

reduced concentration in class. The study emphasizes the need for school-based interventions,

parental supervision, and stricter alcohol policies in schools to help mitigate the impact of peer

pressure on student drinking and academic success.

Foreign

1. “Alcohol Drinking Among College Students and Institutional Responsibility”

According to a study in BMC Public Health (2013), college students' alcohol consumption is

heavily influenced by their environment and social norms. Students living on campus, with

multiple roommates, or actively participating in student activities were more likely to engage in

excessive drinking. Peer influence and perceived positive effects of alcohol also contributed to

higher consumption, while student leaders exhibited lower drinking tendencies. The study

highlights the need for universities to promote responsible drinking through educational
programs, stricter dormitory regulations, and alternative social activities to reduce alcohol's

negative impact on academic performance and well-being.

2. “Consequences of Alcohol Misuse in College Populations”

According to Perkins (2002), alcohol misuse among college students leads to poor academic

performance, increased absenteeism, and difficulty concentrating. The study also highlights

behavioral risks such as aggression, accidents, and unsafe practices. College environments often

normalize excessive drinking, making it a widespread issue. Perkins emphasizes the need for

stricter policies, awareness campaigns, and support programs to mitigate the negative effects of

alcohol consumption on students' academic and personal lives.

3. “Prevalence of Alcohol Consumption and Its Association with Lifestyle Factors”

According to Štefan et al. (2021), alcohol consumption is influenced by lifestyle and socio-

demographic factors such as smoking, physical activity, age, and education level. Their study in

Croatia found that frequent drinkers often engaged in unhealthy behaviors, though some

physically active individuals also consumed alcohol regularly. Younger individuals and those

with lower education levels were more likely to drink excessively. The researchers emphasized

the need for public health campaigns, stricter regulations, and education programs to mitigate

alcohol-related risks and promote healthier lifestyles.

This study is based on three key theories that explain the relationship between alcohol

consumption and academic performance. Social Learning Theory (Bandura, 1977) suggests that

students develop drinking habits by observing and imitating peers, family members, or media

influences, highlighting how environmental and social factors contribute to alcohol use. Self-

Medication Theory (Khantzian, 1997) states that students may use alcohol to cope with stress,

anxiety, or academic pressure, which can further hinder their ability to focus on schoolwork. By

integrating these theories, this study seeks to understand the causes and effects of alcohol

consumption among students and provide a basis for developing interventions to reduce its

negative impact on academic performance.

Conceptual Framework

Figure 1
 The Conceptual Paradigm of the Study

Figure 1: This study applies the Input-Process-Output (IPO) Model to investigate excessive

drinking among students, its contributing factors, and potential solutions. The Input phase

identifies factors that contribute to excessive drinking. The Process phase involves data

collection through descriptive statistics and structured questionnaire to analyze the impact of

excessive drinking on students' academic performance. In the Output phase, the study highlights

the findings of excessive drinking, and proposed solutions such as awareness programs,

counseling, and alternative stress-relief activities.

METHODOLOGY

This study presents the methodology of the study. Specifically, it discusses the research design,

research locale, population, sampling, instrument, data gathering procedure and analysis

Research Design

This study employs a quantitative descriptive research design to examine the effects of

alcohol addiction on students' academic performance. The descriptive approach is used to

systematically describe the relationship between students’ drinking habits and their academic

performance, including grades, attendance, and cognitive functioning. The quantitative method

ensures that data is collected in numerical form, allowing for statistical analysis.

Research Locale

This study will be conducted at Ferndale International School, a senior high school that

offers both academic and technical-vocational tracks. The location was chosen because of its

diverse student population, which provides an ideal setting to explore the effects of alcoholic

beverages on students from various backgrounds. Its environment is conducive to studying the

relationship between drinking habits and academic performance, with a focus on factors such as

attendance, cognitive function, and overall grades.

The target population of this study consists of senior high school students aged 16 to 18

years old who are currently enrolled in Ferndale Interntional School.

The total sample will include 35 students, both male and female, selected from different

sections. The purposive sampling method will be used to select students who have either

admitted to excessive drinking of alcoholic beverages. This sampling method ensures that the

study focuses on students whose drinking habits may directly impact their academic

performance.

Research Instrument

This study will use a structured questionnaire as the primary research instrument to gather

data on the effects of excessive drinking of beverages on students’ academic performance. The

questionnaire consists of four sections: demographic information, drinking habits, academic

performance, and cognitive functioning. The demographic section collects details such as age,

gender, and school. The drinking habits section includes questions about the frequency, reasons,

and quantity of alcohol consumption. The academic performance section assesses the impact of

alcoholic beverages grades, attendance, and study habits, while the cognitive functioning section

examines students’ concentration, memory retention, and stress management strategies. To

ensure validity and reliability, the questionnaire will undergo expert evaluation. Respondents

will answer the survey anonymously, and the collected data will be analyzed using statistical

methods to determine patterns and correlations.

The data collection process will follow several steps to ensure accuracy and reliability.

First, formal permission will be obtained from the school administrators of the selected senior

high school. Once approval is granted, informed consent will be secured from the respondents

and their parents or guardians to ensure ethical compliance.

After obtaining consent, the structured questionnaire will be distributed to the selected 35

senior high school students through purposive sampling. The survey will be conducted during

school hours, with respondents given ample time to complete the questionnaire. They will be

assured of confidentiality and anonymity to encourage honest responses.

After collecting all responses, the data will be reviewed for completeness, and incomplete or

inconsistent responses will be excluded. The data will be analyzed using descriptive statistics to

identify patterns and correlations between alcohol consumption and academic performance. The

findings will inform recommendations for addressing alcohol-related academic challenges

among students.
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