A Call to Action: Changing the Culture of Drinking at U.S. Colleges

Recommendations for Colleges and Universities

"I'm in my prime drinking years, and I intend to take full advantage of it!"

• College student, after a few drinks at a wedding

Excessive Drinking During College as a “Developmental Disturbance”

Developmental disturbance features:

• Time-limited deviance
• Unpredictable in advance based on individual risk factors
• Not predictive of future functioning (if you are lucky)

The 3-in-1 Framework

• Individuals, Including At-Risk or Alcohol-Dependent Drinkers
• Student Body as a Whole
• College and the Surrounding Community

Human Ecology Approach

• Individual embedded in social context
• To change behavior, best bet is to intervene at both individual and context level
• Demand and supply

Tier 2

Evidence of Success With General Populations That Could Be Applied to College Environments

Recommendations — Tier 2

• (1) Increased enforcement of minimum drinking age laws
• (2) Implementation, increased publicity, and enforcement of other laws to reduce alcohol–impaired driving

Reduce Alcohol–Impaired Driving

• Lower legal blood alcohol limits reduces alcohol–related crashes (e.g., Hingson et al., 1996, 2000)
• Make it illegal for those under 21 to drive after any drinking
• Administrative license revocation


• (3) Restrictions on alcohol retail outlet density

Local Outlet Density

• Higher levels of drinking and “binge” drinking with higher number of alcohol outlets within one mile of campus(Chaloupka & Wechsler, 1996)
• Even simple mapping may suggest interventions


• (4) Increased price and excise taxes on alcoholic beverages

Pricing

• Many studies show association of price with consumption and harmful outcomes, especially for young heavy drinkers (Toomey & Wagenaar, 2002)
• For example:
• Restrictions on happy hours or price promotions
• Excise taxes on alcohol


• (5) Responsible beverage service policies in social and commercial settings

Server Training and Responsible Policies (Saltz, Holder, et al.)

• Limiting sales of pitches
• Alcohol-free drinks and food
• No more last call
• ID Checks


• (6) The formation of a campus and community coalition may be critical to implement these strategies effectively

Community Interventions

• PRC Community Trials Project (Holder, Saltz et al.)
• Communities Mobilizing for Change (Wagenaar et al)
• Massachusetts Saving Lives Program (Hingson et al.)

Examples of Tier 2 Interventions

Northwest Region

Willamette University

• Community Task Force
• Greater Enforcement – Underage
• Training in Controlled Dispersal

University of Portland

• Community Substance Abuse Prevention Team
• End of Finals Night
• Business Training in Marketing & Pricing
• Integrated Evaluation Data

Washington State University

• Comprehensive Community Program
• Greater Enforcement – Proactive
• Coupled with extensive Normative Education

Concluding Thoughts

• Try to keep major players moving in the same direction
• Keep trying (even when you succeed)
• Involve local researchers for design and evaluation

Historical document
Last reviewed: 9/23/2005