binge drinkikng
... to stay afloat. How can these problems stop if local economies are based on revenues generated from the sales and taxes that liquor creates I feel that I have a unique perspective on this topic, not only as a student but also having a brother who went to school here. Throughout my life, I have associated college life with drinking and partying. My brother went through the fraternity system here, and I often visited the campus during high school. When I visited, I thought that it was the coolest place in the world; what with all of the women, music, and, of course, alcohol. I never noticed the adverse effects that alcohol has. The endless nights of drinking add up, which subsequently caused my own brother to get expelled from the University of Illinois. “Heavy episodic drinking is also associated with missing class and getting behind in school work. This appeared particularly strong during the freshman year” (Wood et al 206). The sudden shock of this lifestyle, as I noticed when I was younger, is overwhelming. Contrary to conventional wisdom, “a student's year in school is not a significant predictor of binge drinking. The percentage of students who are binge drinkers is nearly uniform from freshman through senior year, despite the fact that students under 21 are subject to the minimum drinking age law” (http://www.edc.org/hec/pubs/binge.htm). A recent study at a large Midwestern university reported over 80% of the students participated in any drinking activities all year. The numbers are quite alarming, with only 18.5% abstaining from alcohol use, and 43.6% engaging in bingeing (Chaloupka 115) . An obvious area to discuss is the fraternity life. Although it has become a recent trend to turn fraternities “dry,” no alcohol allowed in the house or at social activities associated with the fraternity, the odds of a large group of males between the ages of 18 and 21 living together and not drinking are quite paltry. An alarming four out of five fraternity or sorority members admit to binge drinking (McCormick 89). During a freshmen's first year, or “pledging,” it is not uncommon for the older members of the house to haze them. Hazing can be defined as being forced to do things that are against your will, and violate you as a human being. Hazing is illegal in most states (http://www.greekpages.com/resources/). During hazing, anything from forced binge drinking to sensory depravation is fair game. These freshmen consume massive quantities of alcohol and attend classes the next day on a consistent basis. There is not as wide a disparity between male and female drinking habits as many would think. Alcohol-related problems affected both sexes about equally. Women binge drinkers reported experiencing roughly the same level of alcohol-related problems as men binge drinkers. There were two exceptions: men more often reported damaging property and getting in trouble with the police. Frequent binge drinkers had the most serious problems. For example, “frequent binge drinkers were seven to 16 times more likely than non-binge drinkers to have missed class, gotten behind in their school work, engaged in unplanned sexual activity, not used protection when having sex, gotten in trouble with campus police, damaged property, or been hurt or injured” (http://www.edc.org/hec/pubs/binge.htm). Even if these binge drinkers are lucky enough to live through college, their habits will eventually catch up to them. Years of chronic binge drinking can lead to a resistance, causing people to crave alcohol. This then leads to addiction, which can ultimately kill a drinker. Over time, alcohol wears away the body. “If acute alcohol poisoning, violence, or an accident doesn't kill a chronic drinker, chances are increased risks of liver disease, heart disease, and cancer will” (Kowalski 9). What are the necessary steps universities can take to make sure this problem is curtailed? There are several actions needed to be taken to insure a safe, alcohol free environment where budding minds are waiting to be enriched. First, actively reinforce the fact that binge drinking is not normal. When viewing the numbers, it is easy to say that 43.6 % of all students engage in binge drinking. However, why not say 56.4 % of all students do not binge drink? Although it seems to be a “the cup is half full” scenario, it gets the point across. Michael Haines, a campus-health official at Northern Illinois University, says “A more effective approach is to use advertising to hammer home the positive side of the numbers: the fact that many students do drink responsibly” (McCormick 89). Next, universities must make an impression that, while fun at times, binge drinking is a serious problem that causes more than just problems for the individual students. Eileen Coughlin, Associate Vice President Student Services Northern Arizona University, acknowledges that “An alcohol and other drug prevention program has to connect to campus-wide issues, such as campus violence, damage in residence halls, and sexual assaults. This helps people understand that the misuse of alcohol is part of a larger picture." On campuses where more than half the students are binge drinkers, the vast majority of students (87 %) who live on campus have experienced one or more problems as a result of others' binge drinking (http://www.ias.org.uk/theglobe/jan98/). Thirdly, universities must stop “ looking the other way” regarding serious alcohol-related problems. Alcohol can be banned on campus, or at any activities involving registered campus organizations including fraternities and sororities. These problems do not necessarily start at college. “Mothers Against Drunk Driving estimates half of America's 20 million junior and senior high school students drink monthly. Seventy-nine percent say being drunk feels good. 66 percent say drinking helps them forget problems. A similar percentage admit they drink because others do it too” (Kowalski 12). “Compared to other students, college students who were binge drinkers in high school were almost three times more likely to be binge drinkers in college” (http://www.edc.org/hec/pubs/binge.htm). The availability of alcohol to minors is a problem that does not look like it will stop anytime soon. During high school, my best friend had an old high school ID of his brothers. When he walked in to a liquor store, he merely told them that his license was taken away by the police, and that this was his only form of identification. This worked far more times than it didn't, and we had as much alcohol as we could afford whenever we wanted it. Another problem is when older brothers and sisters who are over 21 purchase alcohol for minors. While they assume an incredible liability for their purchases, this does not seem to stop most of them. The question seems to be what do students “get out of” drinking? For many, intoxication is often the main goal. Of all frequent binge drinkers, 73 percent of the men and 68 percent of the women cited drinking to get drunk as an important reason for drinking (http://www.edc.org/hec/pubs/binge.htm). Students feel that drinking is a release from the everyday pressures of school. Many claim that drinking is a necessary stress reliever that also makes them more relaxed and easier to communicate with. While these may be true temporarily, they definitely have their downfalls. The all to common hangovers are a reality check for most people which leave them wondering “is it worth it?” Another point may people make is that the drinking age should be lowered. Obviously, each side has their own points and counterpoints. While people in favor of the drinking age may state that it would create an environment where students feel comfortable drinking responsibly without having to worry about “getting busted,” others say that it would just give younger people the chance to binge drink more often and with less apprehension. Most noticeably, pro-21 people believe that drinking is a privilege not unlike the right to vote or drive, which should be given to people when they are responsible and mature. “We must remember that public policy, such as any law establishing a legal drinking age, has always to respond to needs, issues, and concerns of the whole of society. Changes that might make practical sense on campus could make no sense at all elsewhere. And campuses are so different that interpretations of the benefits of, or harm done by, the current legal drinking age understandably vary” (Keeling 54). While there are many viewpoints regarding these drinking problems, The alcohol industry's claims must still be recognized. Several alcohol companies published a report stating that the accepted definition of binge drinking, four drinks in a row for women and five in a row for men, is grossly wrong. They feel bingeing is defined by drinking bouts lasting up to several days with periods of self-indulgence. Although these two definitions are quite opposite, one must realize that they are both quite excessive. While the alcohol company's definition is to a greater extreme, it still carries heavy problems. Although this may skew the numbers and lower certain statistics, even one alcohol-relate...