The results of a research conducted by the University of Washington shows that American students who come to New Zealand to study consume twice as much alcohol as they would do at home.

The study also found that those of them who chose Europe, Australia or New Zealand for higher studies drank more heavily when they were abroad than those who went to Asia, Latin America, Middle East or Africa.

“We hear stories in the media and elsewhere about students going abroad, drinking too much and getting into trouble. But no one has ever measured this risky drinking behaviour and there are no published studies of prevention strategies before they go abroad,” said Eric Pedersen, a UW graduate student in psychology.

The research sought to find out the reason why some the consumption of alcohol by some students goes up when they are abroad. The research has been published in the current issue of Psychology of Addictive Behaviors.

The research found that the students drank double the amount of alcohol when they were away in comparison to the amount they drink when at home. It was found to be eight drinks when compared to four per week.