Prevention of high-risk use of alcohol by college students has been studied for over 20 years. Most prevention methodology has focused on reducing supply to students rather than addressing the root causes that students use alcohol in self-abusive manner. One holistic health approach that addresses the root causes of alcohol abuse promotes the seven life health principles of optimism, values, self-care, relationships, community, nature, and service. The purpose of this ex post facto study was to determine the relationships between university students' self-ratings on the seven life health principles (7-LHPs) and their self-ratings on alcohol use reported on the long-form of the Core survey. Survey items related to the seven life health principles developed at George Mason University used a four-point Liked scale and were added to the Core Survey given at a Midwest university. Students were invited by an all-school email to take the Core Survey. A total of 565 students completed the survey.

Computation of survey item means for each of the 7-LHPs indicated that student respondents disagreed that they used the 7-LHPs regardless of their gender, age, residence, grades, ethnicity, marital status, year in school, or involvement in activities. Students especially disagreed that they felt a sense of belonging to a campus community and that they gave back through service. Students over 20 and students living off campus especially did not feel a sense of belonging to the campus community. Students who received C/D grades especially reported that they did not enjoy nor take responsibility for the nature.

Computation of students' binge drinking means indicated that the single white males living off campus, receiving C/D grades, and playing intramural sports were at an increased risk for collegiate binge drinking. Students involved in religion and married students are at a significantly less risk for binge drinking.

A discriminant analysis revealed that out of the 7-LHPs, only the values principle was a significant predictor of binge drinking. Students who were clear about and lived their personal values on a daily basis were the only ones who showed reduced binge drinking rates.