Updated:  July 2023

Please use caution when interpreting the 2021 trends - 2021 isn't comparable to 2019 and earlier, nor will it be comparable to 2023 and higher. There are a couple of significant differences from previous years:

• Survey data was collected during a period when schools and students were still significantly impacted by the ongoing challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic. This context has likely influenced the responses and behaviors captured in the survey.
• Survey was conducted in the fall of 2021, deviating from its usual timing in the spring. As a result, the age of the surveyed students is approximately six months younger than in previous years. This age difference can potentially impact the trends and comparisons drawn from the data.

In 2019, 15% o high school students drank 10 or more drinks in a row within a couple of hours during the past month.  Binge drinking significantly increases with each grade level and does not differ by sex, race, or sexual orientation.  

The Vermont Department of health supports community-based environmental and individual prevention programs aimed at reduction of binge drinking, including media campaigns, evidence-based strategies and a focus on middle and high school youth.  Our school-based substance use services grants also focus on environmental and individual prevention programs and strategies aimed at reduction of underage and binge drinking. 

The Supervisory Unions across the state that are receiving grant funds are also required to deliver screening and referral services to substance abuse and mental health services, as well as activities that support the CDC’s Whole School, Whole Community, Whole Child (WSCC) framework.   Optional activities can include supporting VDH’s statewide media campaigns (e.g. Parent UP), evidence-based curriculum, parent education programs, peer leadership programs, teacher training and educational support groups with students.

Note:  There is limited trend data available because the binge drinking measure definition was changed by the Center for Disease Control (CDC) to make it gender specific. Prior to 2017, binge drinking was defined as five or more drinks in one sitting for both males and females while in the 2017 Vermont Youth Risk Behavior Survey (YRBS) it is defined as five or more drinks for males and four or more drinks for females.