Intervening to decrease alcohol abuse at university parties: differential reinforcement of intoxication level.

Fournier et al. (2004) threw cash prizes at fraternity parties.

If a student left the party with a blood-alcohol level under .05, they entered a draw for $10–50.

The researchers also taped BAC nomograms on the wall so students could check themselves.

Legal intoxication rates at those parties dropped by more than half.

Mean BAC also fell.

The cash plus self-check charts worked better than typical education-only efforts.

Sisson et al. (1993) saw no change when tavern patrons only got BAC feedback without money. The two studies seem to clash, but the difference is the prize. Feedback alone is weak; add a reinforcer and behavior moves.

Volkmar et al. (1985) and Houten et al. (1983) already showed that public feedback signs cut speeding when paired with mild penalties. K et al. simply swapped cars for cups and tickets for cash, showing the same feedback-plus-incentive recipe works on alcohol.

Schuster et al. (2025) later repeated the idea with teens, paying for cannabis-free urine. Again, money plus biofeedback produced results, confirming the contingency-management model across substances and ages.

You now have a field-tested, low-cost tool for college events. Post a chart, offer a raffle, and watch risky drinking fall. No lectures, no scolding—just clear contingencies. Try it at your next behavioral health outreach; track BAC with a breathalyzer and hand out gift-card raffle tickets. One hour of setup can halve intoxication rates.