In the discussion so far, economics are ignored. In the last part of the fifties decade I was at Colby College and a member of the DKE fraternity, sometimes called "drunken dekes" disparagingly and sometimes with admiration. In my fraternity, about a third of the house owned cars and seemed to have unlimited resources for "school night" runs to a local tavern, usually for an hour or so before last call which was midnight in Maine on week days. The majority of the house could not afford to drink that often. We would turn down an opportunity for a late night beer or two saying I am saving my $3 for the weekend party. I also recall the veterans getting their checks once a month(?) and going on a toot and then back to their serious studying! Students have more disposable income today, whether it is from home or from their local jobs on or off campus. I think this plays a role in the drinking along with some other sociological and cultural factors. cheers, Jim