Alcohol involves 50% of sexual assault among college students. Eighty-five percent of on-campus rapes are acquaintance rapes. According to Bohmer and Parrot 25% of college women have experienced forced sex at some time during their college careers.

To determine the relationship between alcohol, location and stranger with sexual assault in college women at UNC.

To compare sexual assault in which alcohol was consumed versus assault in which alcohol was not consumed, assault which occurred on campus versus off campus, and friend versus stranger assault.

This was a retrospective cohort study. Data was collected from 2003–2007. Students surveyed were undergraduates and graduates selected on the basis of non probability convenient sampling. Sample size calculation was done using the W.H.O. software where α = 0.05, 1-Beta = 90, Po = 0.55, Pa = 0.35, n (sample size) = 52. Binary logistic regression analysis was used to assess risk factors for the dependent variable of sexual assault with a threshold for selection of p < 0.05.

Friend assault had a high prevalence of assault than stranger assault (35/84; 41.66% v 17/84; 20.23; p < 0.05). On campus assault had an increased prevalence of assault than off campus assault (33/84; 39.28% v 19/84: 22.61%; p < 0.05). Friend assault was the strongest predictor for assault and was 2.35 times (95% CI, 2.27 – 2.40) more as compared to stranger assault.

Alcohol increases the probability of sexual assault if the students are on campus and have friendship with the perpetrator.