I agree that you can't blame the victim.

But the concept that certain behavior is more risky than other behavior seems to make sense as well.

For instance - if someone were to rob me and shoot me, that is entirely the other person's fault. It isn't legal and it isn't right to rob and kill people. But if I happened to be walking down the most dangerous street in the most dangerous neighborhood in Chicago on a dark night when it happened - while that STILL doesn't make it my fault, it might mean that I put myself into a situation where someone else was more likely to rob and shoot me than if I was walking down the streets of Provo, Utah.

This research does a better job of making my point: http://www.collegedrinkingprevention.gov/media/journal/118-abbey.pdf

First - they make it VERY clear that perpetrators are responsible for their own actions. It is not the victims fault.

"However, men are legally and morally responsible for acts of sexual assault they commit, regardless of whether or not they were intoxicated or felt that the woman had led them on previously. The fact that women’s alcohol consumption may increase their likelihood of experiencing sexual assault does not make them responsible for the man’s behavior, although such information may empower women when used in prevention programs."

That said - they also make it clear that alcohol consumption increases the chances of sexual assault (or rape) occurring.

"Alcohol increases the likelihood of sexual assault occurring among acquaintances during social interactions through several interrelated pathways."

You might be interested in the pathways they identify as being influenced by the alcohol consumption - read the article of you are.

I just want to point out these two truths: First - it is ALWAYS the perpetrators fault. Second - even though it is ALWAYS the perpetrator's fault, alcohol consumption increases the likelihood of women becoming victims.

I can walk down that dangerous street in Chicago at night, and I may or may not be robbed or killed.

And women on campus can consume alcohol, and may or may not be sexually assaulted.

Ultimately, we all have to determine if the potential outcome is worth making the behavioral changes to avoid the potential risk.