Clean Up The Campus Because the campus environment is where students spend much of their time, efforts to improve the situation should focus on the policies and practices in this setting that contribute to alcohol problems. The overwhelming presence of alcohol at some events, alcohol advertising and promotion, and lax enforcement of existing laws can all contribute to binge drinking and other alcohol-related problems.
Restrict alcohol advertising and sponsorships
Alcohol advertising on and around college campuses, and especially alcohol industry sponsorship of campus events, can be a major environmental factor influencing students' drinking decisions. One study found that 35% of college newspaper advertising revenue comes from the alcohol industry, while the primary audience for college newspapers is under the legal drinking age. Other venues for alcohol advertising include sports schedules, and athletic and artistic programs. Does an alcohol company sponsor a stadium or building, have signage on campus or sponsor campus events? You may want to consider proposing a ban or restriction on alcohol advertisements or sponsorships on campus and at campus-related activities. Enact a "dry-campus" policy A "dry-campus" policy is one that prohibits alcohol on any university-owned property or at any school-sponsored event. As such, "dry-campus" policies help counteract the notion that drinking is an essential part of the college experience. Colleges that enact dry-campus policies are better able to control underage and binge drinking, as alcohol is less readily available. Eliminate alcohol at school sporting events Eliminating sales and availability of alcohol at sporting events, such as stadium sales and tailgating, can have a significant impact on related problems, both on and off campus. The presence of alcohol in these settings is often linked to heavy drinking, alcohol-related crashes, and violence. Eliminating sales and other supplies of alcohol at collegiate sporting events can serve two functions. First, it can produce an immediate reduction in alcohol-related problems. Additionally, it breaks the link between sports and drinking, which contributes to the overall acceptance and normalcy of alcohol use on campuses. Many schools no longer allow the sale of alcohol at sporting events. For example, the University of Colorado and Colorado State University have stopped selling alcohol at their annual rivalry game. Many schools now restrict or prohibit alcohol while tailgating at major sporting events. Designate alcohol-free housing Alcohol-free living environments provide students with housing that downplays the importance of alcohol in college. Such living arrangements reduce access to alcohol by creating an environment in which alcohol possession and consumption is completely prohibited. |
