BAKERSFIELD, Calif. -- It's called "21 for 21" -- a dangerous trend on college campuses where students celebrate their 21st birthday by attempting to down 21 alcoholic drinks.

New research from the University of Missouri has suggested this type of excessive celebration has become quite common.

In a survey of 2,500 current and recent college students, more than four of five said they drank alcohol on their 21st birthday -- and many admitted to binge drinking.

Thirty-four percent of men and 24 percent of women said they drank 21 drinks or more -- as high as 30 drinks for women and 50 for men, all in the course of a single day.

Researchers said this pushes blood alcohol levels into dangerous territory, between three and four times the legal limit -- which risks liver damage, coma, or even death.

The study also revealed that underage heavy drinkers and members of the Greek fraternity system were most likely to engage in serious alcohol abuse on their 21st birthdays.