Fact Sheet Helps Parents Discuss College Drinking During Critical Fall Semester

Format: Fact Sheet
Institute: National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA)

As the fall semester begins, parents can use this important time to help prepare their college-age sons and daughters by talking with them about the consequences of excessive drinking. Many students will arrive on campus this fall for the first time. It's a time of new experiences. Unfortunately for many, it can also be a time of excessive drinking and dealing with its aftermath—violence, sexual aggression, and even death.

Anecdotal evidence suggests that the first 6 weeks of the first semester are critical to a student’s academic success, because many initiate heavy drinking during these early days of college, with the potential for excessive alcohol consumption to interfere with successful adaptation to campus life. About one-third of first-year students fail to enroll for their second year.

A new NIAAA fact sheet helps parents discuss college drinking with their children. Parents can do a variety of things to stay involved. They can inquire about campus alcohol policies, they can call frequently and ask about roommates and living arrangements. They can also discuss the penalties for underage drinking and how alcohol use can lead to date rape, violence, and academic failure.

For parents who want to talk to their college-age sons and daughters about the consequences of college drinking, a variety of helpful resources are available from an award-winning Web site, http://www.collegedrinkingprevention.gov.

Next Steps
View the Fact Sheet, titled “Fall Semester—A Time for Parents to Revisit Discussions About College Drinking” at http://www.collegedrinkingprevention.gov/Parents/collegefactsheet.aspx.