Purpose: This study was done to identify the risk factors influencing drinking permissiveness in university students. Method: The participants in this descriptive survey on causal relations were 219 students enrolled in university who were selected by convenience sampling. The data collected from April to July, 2005 were used in multiple regression analysis to build a prediction model. Results: Differences in drinking permissiveness according to general characteristics were as follows: gender, drinking frequency, drinking in more than one place each time and frequency of excessive drinking. The relationship between drinking permissiveness and amount of alcohol consumption (drinking frequency/month, amount/each time) showed positive correlations. The relationship between drinking permissiveness and motives to drink (social, enhancement, confirmity, coping motives) also showed positive correlations. The causal factors of drinking permissiveness were social motives, capacity/each time and drinking frequency/month. Conclusion: The findings suggest that board intervention programs should be provided to prevent problems of excessive drinking. It is also recommended that a program be developed that can help control the variables identified in this study along with follow up study to verify the model.