| Sumario: | Introduction: Heavy episodic drinking (HED) is a major problem among Colombian university students. This study aims to identify the sociodemographic characteristics and motivational constructs, as defined by the I-Change model (ICM), associated with HED among university students in Colombia. Method: A cross-sectional study was conducted with 846 university students from three universities in Colombia. Participants completed an online questionnaire that assessed sociodemographic characteristics and psychographic constructs based on the ICM. Descriptive statistics, Chi-square tests, ANOVA, and binary logistic regression analyses were performed to analyze the data. Results: Heavy episodic drinking was more prevalent among male students, those with higher socioeconomic status, those living in their hometown, and those attending private universities in Colombia. HED was associated with lower risk perception, greater perceived advantages, and lower perceived disadvantages of consuming ten or more standard drinks. Students who engaged in HED also reported higher social norms, greater modeling and pressure from loved ones to drink, reduced self-efficacy in refusing drinking situations, and a stronger intention to engage in HED. Conclusion: Preventive interventions targeting university students in Colombia should specifically address the key sociodemographic and motivational factors associated with heavy episodic drinking (HED), as identified in this study.
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