Category: College

Effective College Alcohol Policies (and Ineffective Ones)

Crafting effective college alcohol policies that protect the health and life of students is harder than it might appear. That’s because what first appears to be an easy solution fails. I. Ineffective College Alcohol Policies Scare Students Some colleges use scare tactics. They stress the horrible things that could happen as a result of alcohol …

Read more

Intoxicated Women aren’t Attractive to College Men

College men don’t find excessive drinking by women to be appealing. That’s contrary to what most college women falsely think. In short, intoxicated women aren’t attractive or appealing to college men. That’s the finding of research among 3,616 college students. Seven of ten women (71%) overestimated the amount of alcohol that the typical college man …

Read more

Unrecognized Problem about Binge Drinking (It’s Serious)

underreport alcohol

Dr.  Robert Chapman explains below a widely unrecognized problem about binge drinking. And it’s one that has serious effects.   There is great controversy among professionals about the term “binge drinking.” This term is widely used to address the issue of high-risk drinking by college students. But it’s far from the “accepted term” of those who …

Read more

Inconsistent College Alcohol Policies: Schizophrenic Campus

College are often using two popular but very conflicting approaches to reduce alcohol abuse. Thus, some have inconsistent college alcohol policies. One is an aggressive no-use, zero tolerance policy. It focuses on drinking or possession of alcohol. It stresses strong law enforcement and strong penalties. And it commonly trys to “scare ’em straight.” It do …

Read more

Ignored Civil Rights Issue (Age 21 Drinking Law for Adults)

effective college alcohol policies

A reader sent the following opinion piece. It addresses the ignored civil rights issue of our time. The writer wishes to remain anonymous.   As we students return to campus each fall, we are bombarded with politically correct rhetoric. It focuses on race, gender, and sexual orientation. Activists tell us that our country is racist, …

Read more

Amethyst Initiative: College Presidents Lead in Reducing Alcohol Abuse

The Amethyst Initiative is a group of college and university presidents across the US. They promote public discussion about the unintended consequences of current alcohol policies. This includes the minimum legal drinking age of 21. Amethyst Initiative presidents  invite new ideas on how best to prepare young adults to make responsible decisions about alcohol use. …

Read more

Reduce Underage Alcohol Abuse In Creative Ways: Here are 7

Our society uses many techniques in efforts to reduce underage alcohol abuse. (This includes alcohol abuse by those of legal age but still young.) A few are effective, but most are not. And there’s no silver bullet. Therefore, we must continue examining additional possibilities. Here are some creative ways to try to reduce underage alcohol …

Read more

Alcohol Medical Emergency Amnesty: Colleges and Universities

Amethyst Initiatiative

Alcohol medical emergency amnesty policies at colleges and universities are to save lives. They give a higher priority to protecting students’ safety and lives than to enforcing alcohol rules. Alcohol Medical Emergency Amnesty Hundreds of colleges and universities have medical alcohol emergency amnesty policies. Clemson University began such a policy after a major tragedy. The …

Read more

Alcohol Enforcement ABCs at University of Virginia

This editorial on alcohol enforcement from The Cavalier Daily at the University of Virginia. Posted by permission of the Editor. Alcohol Enforcement is Important Alcohol is part of the University experience. Frat parties, bar hopping and tailgating before football games. These are as collegiate as classes and exams. Then there’s alcohol enforcement. Yet it caught …

Read more

Children, Alcohol and Parenting: What Should Parents Do?

Alcohol and parenting is a debated subject. What’s the best thing for parents to do? What can they legally do? The subject of alcohol and parenting is surrounded by conflicting beliefs and opinions. And also by a high degree of emotion. The good news is this. Research provides useful answers. This can guide us parents. …

Read more