Behavioral economic demand for refillable cups of alcohol at off-campus parties

What is it about?

Many college students consume alcohol at off-campus parties using a refillable ("bottomless") cup. Here we examined whether the price of the cup is related to the probability of cup purchase using a new hypothetical purchase task, the Cup-Price Purchase Task. Consistent with other behavioral economic purchase-task studies, we found that low cup prices were associated with greater probability of purchase.

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Why is it important?

These findings indicate that undergraduate college students are highly likely to purchase an inexpensive refillable cup for alcohol at off-campus parties. In addition, students reporting the greatest expenditures for a refillable cup also consume more alcohol and experience more alcohol-related consequences. Therefore, campus policymakers should consider regulating or banning “all-you-can drink” alcohol specials.