Women are now drinking as much as men according to a study of college students.

The UCC-based study, which used a rigorous sampling strategy, found a high prevalence of hazardous alcohol consumption among the 2,275 undergraduates who responded compared to the general population.

The results of the study published in the British Medical Journal indicates 17% of men and 5% of women drink more than 3 pints at least four times a week - well above the recommended intake.

66.4% of students responded reporting hazardous alcohol consumption, 65.2% for men and 67.3% for women. 

Researcher Martin Davoren says he was taken aback by the study: