Although colleges across the country have launched extensive alcohol prevention programs, a Harvard University study indicates that these efforts may have proved effective only for students living on campus.
Incidents of binge drinking among college students living in off-campus housing increased from 1997 to 1999, but decreased among students living on campus during the same time period, according to the Harvard School of Public Health 1999 College Alcohol Study (CAS).
While the study found no overall increase in binge drinking, there were increases in percentages of students who binge drink more than once a week and students abstaining from alcohol consumption.
Binge drinking is defined as five drinks at one sitting for men and four drinks at one sitting for women.
An increase in binge drinking was found among off-campus residents while the increase in abstention was attributed to dormitory residents.
But University officials said this trend does not seem to apply to the University.
A report on alcohol use within the University indicates that there has been a decrease in binge drinking both on and off Grounds in recent years, said Marianne Bell, health educator at the Center for Alcohol and Substance Abuse Education.
Henry Wechsler, principal investigator of CAS and Director of the College Alcohol Studies Program at the Harvard School of Public Health, said he believes the findings indicate a need for greater cooperation between colleges and the outside community in alcohol abuse prevention issues.
"A big part of the problem involves off-campus parties and drinking in local bars," Wechsler said.
He said he advocates working with bar owners and other merchants to restrict alcohol sales to college students, especially to minors.
"Elimination of specials, free ladies' nights, and happy hours ... is a priority," he said.
The study also suggested that colleges should focus more on punishment for alcohol violations than on educating students about the dangers of alcohol abuse.
But Director of Student Health James C. Turner said he was concerned that an increased emphasis on sanctions might alienate some students and encourage them to drink more.
"We need to engage students in cooperative and collaborative preventive measures," such as the posters placed in the bathroom stalls of first-year dorms informing students of alcohol-related statistics, Turner said.
There has been a drop in alcohol-related emergency room visits because of such non-punitive measures, he said.
He cited the University's decision to move fraternity rush to the spring as an effective method of alcohol abuse prevention.
The move "allows students to become assimilated to the University" Turner said.
Asst. Dean of Students Aaron Laushway said the University should cooperate with the Charlottesville community to ensure that University students are held accountable for their actions and behave in a responsible manner.
"The intention is to help students objectively, carefully and competently" examine their behavior, Laushway said.
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