The More, the Merrier! A Multilevel Latent Class Analysis of College Students’ Drinking Game Behaviors During the COVID-19 Pandemi

Playing drinking games (DGs) in person during a pandemic is risky, given the contagious nature of viruses. We explored the number and nature of data-derived subgroups of students based on their demographics and reported levels of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) concerns/cognitions. We then examined differences across subgroups in DG participation, the number of drinks typically consumed while playing in-person DGs, and the occurrence of playing DGs in person with 10 or more people. Students (N = 633) from seven universities across five states in the United States (M_age = 22.32/ SD= 4.64; female = 74.5%) completed self-report surveys. Multilevel latent class analyses identified two subgroups: Class 1—The more the merrier (n = 230) and Class 2—Too many cooks spoil the game (n= 403). Students who were female, older, and lived with their families were more likely to be in Class 2. Students in Class 1 had fewer COVID-19 concerns, felt less confident in wearing a mask/social distancing while under the influence, were less likely to believe in mask mandates until the end of the pandemic, felt less socially isolated, and had a higher likelihood of ever having a COVID-19 diagnosis than students in Class 2. Finally, compared to students in Class 2, students in Class 1 were more likely to play DGs, play in-person DGs more frequently, and play DGs with 10 or more people over and above the weekly drink quantity. Given the possibility of another highly infectious disease, knowing the risk factors associated with behaviors like playing DGs in person during a pandemic can assist university personnel in curating/ implementing alcohol guidelines.