How much do You Drink?
Leena Kamath

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I was appalled when I got an email from a friend informing me that my roommate has been suspended from school for excessive drinking and indecent behavior. What my roommate did was typical of any school or college going kids. 

Binge drinking. It's a college stereotype. 

Binge drinking has been defined as "Having five or more drinks in a row for men or four or more drinks in a row for women." Binge drinking has been under public and scientific investigation for years. According to a national study done by the Harvard School of Public Health, with data from nearly 17,600 students at 140 four-year colleges and universities, 44 percent of the students were binge drinkers. From this study, researchers concluded, "binge drinking is the most serious drug problem on college campuses." (U.S. Department of Education)

Which leads to the question how do students feel about binge drinking?

"Hell yeah," said Damian Reese, freshman business major. "I don't drink, but I know it's a problem."

In an email interview with Dr. Jones, director of Journalism and Mass Communications program, agreed. "Yes, it goes on in every campus, he said. "I question how many students actually like alcohol, but I think they do it to fit in with the crowd."

Reese has a contrasting opinion as to why students drink. "Because they can," he said. "[It's] the whole away from home, you can do what you want thing."

According to the Harvard study, intoxication is often the main goal of binge drinkers. "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." Also, the study says that binge drinking causes serious consequences. "Frequent binge drinkers are 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."

One startling statistic showed the study revealed was that "frequent binge drinkers were 10 times more likely than non-binge drinkers to have driven after drinking alcohol, and they were 16 times more likely than non-binge drinkers to have ridden with a driver who was high or drunk." (U.S. Department of Education)

The Harvard study propounds that the statistics they have found indicate "college and university administrators will want to intensify their search for new approaches to prevent both underage and binge drinking." According to the handbook published by most schools and colleges, "Minor residents are not permitted to consume, transport or possess alcoholic beverages. Residents who are of legal drinking age may consume alcoholic beverages in the privacy of their own rooms with their doors closed. 

However, this should not be construed that in no way does a school or college encourage the use of alcohol. Kegs, party balls, and/or case quantities are strictly prohibited. Violation shall result in immediate residence hall dismissal for the balance of the term and the next whole academic term. Which is what happened to my roommate!

In spite of the precisely stated terms, illegal alcohol consumption does occur in schools, and according to Jones, there is not much that the college can do to stop it. "You're never going to stop all of it because alcohol is addictive" Jones said. "Education is always a positive influence, but education can only do so much. You can preach till you're blue in the face, but the attitude is, 'it won't happen to me; I'm in control,' but they're not in control. They're far from being in control."

In spite of the laws restricting underage drinking, binge drinking among college students will continue. It is a choice that the students have to take. The bottom line is whether they're underage or of age, if they want to do something, they will find means to get it, whether is pornography magazines, drugs, alcohol.

For more information about the Harvard School of Public Health study on binge drinking, visit the website at www.edc.org/hec/pubs/binge

-LKS