High-Risk Drinking in College: What We Know and What We Need To Learn
The College Scene
Today, there is much heterogeneity in college experiences; only about 13 percent of all
undergraduate students live on campus, and 35 percent are enrolled part-time. Some first-year
students who live on campus may be at particular risk for alcohol misuse. Anecdotal evidence
suggests that the first 6 weeks of enrollment are critical to first-year student success. Because
many students initiate heavy drinking during these early days of college, the potential exists for
excessive alcohol consumption to interfere with successful adaptation to campus life.
Unfortunately, many alcohol prevention programs do not target this early, critical, high-risk
situation.
College organizational factors are also related to student drinking. For example, historically
Black colleges and women’s colleges tend to have lower rates of alcohol use, while colleges with a
Greek system and colleges that place a heavy emphasis on athletics tend to have higher rates of
alcohol use. Commuter colleges and 2-year institutions tend to have lower alcohol consumption
rates than noncommuter schools and 4-year institutions. In terms of size, students at smaller
colleges tend to drink more than students at larger schools.
U.S. laws require that colleges and universities that receive Federal funding develop an alcohol
and drug education policy. In addition to laws, ethical and social obligations dictate that
college administrators develop an alcohol policy that is consistent with the institution’s own
culture, mission, and values. The Panel noted that once drafted and adopted, an institution’s
alcohol policy should be respected and consistently enforced; it should be wholly supported by the
college president, students, faculty and staff, and the neighboring community, including law
enforcement officers.
Factors that may be external to the campus can also affect college student drinking. For example,
alcohol pricing and the density of liquor outlets have been shown to influence consumption by
college students. Generally, the lower the price and the higher the concentration of bars and
retail outlets near campus, the higher the alcohol consumption by college students.
