Alcohol data shows little change
A new study of alcohol use among college students has found that the prevalence of binge drinking at UW–Madison remained largely the same over the past year, reflecting a national trend.
Conducted by Henry Wechsler and the Harvard School of Public Health, the 2001 College Alcohol Study found continued high rates of binge drinking and the associated negative consequences at UW–Madison and colleges and universities across the nation. The study appears in the latest issue of the Journal of American College Health.
At UW–Madison, 66 percent of respondents said they had engaged in binge drinking in 2001, compared to 62 percent in 2000 and 67 percent in 1999. Binge drinking is defined as five drinks or more in a row for men and four drinks or more in a row for women. However, the changes are not statistically significant because of the margin of error built into the study.
The 2001 numbers are based on a sample of 400 students.
UW–Madison has been included in the Harvard research since Wechsler conducted his first national study in 1993. The university, Madison and surrounding communities are working to change the culture that encourages high-risk drinking.
The university is also an active participant in the RWJ Project, a broad coalition against high-risk drinking funded by the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation and administered by the American Medical Association. At UW–Madison, the initial project is in its sixth and final year of implementation. The university is applying for an additional four years of funding.
“This is a complex problem that requires a long-term, community-wide solution,” says Susan Crowley, University Health Services director of prevention services and director of the UW–Madison RWJ Project. “These numbers show why we need to continue working. There’s no magic bullet: an effective response will include education, a variety of options instead of drinking, and policy change.”
The RWJ Project focuses primarily on changing culture of high-risk drinking, not individual behavior. As a result, the university is:
- Pursuing changes in policy. The coalition backed a successful local keg registration measure and actively participates in liquor license deliberations at the city Alcohol License Review Committee and the ALRC Subcommittee on Comprehensive Alcohol Issues. The RWJ Project also backs a ban on drink specials and efforts to control alcohol over-consumption at house parties.
- Coalition building: RWJ Project organizers have continued to forge collaborations between the campus and the community, meeting with campus-area property owners and Tavern League members to identify common issues and discuss roles in changing the culture that supports high-risk drinking.
- More late-night choices: In cooperation with the Wisconsin Union Directorate, RWJ is working to expand late-night programming at Memorial Union, Union South and around the campus area. Luther’s Blues, a campus-area club, continues to host several all-age shows in a non-alcohol environment.
The study also found that the percentage of students who experienced negative effects due to their own drinking increased, generally, compared to last year’s data. The effects include hangovers, missed classes, unplanned sexual activities, damaging property and sustaining injuries.
The 2001 numbers for UW–Madison show that 20.2 percent of respondents have been injured; 37.3 percent have missed a class; and 29.5 percent engaged in unplanned sexual activity due to drinking.
The percentage of students experiencing problems due to other student’s drinking — negative secondary effects — also generally increased. Among them, 26.3 percent experienced instances of property damage, 69 percent had studying and or sleep interrupted, and 35 percent experienced an unwanted sexual advance.
A summary of other changes in UW–Madison student patterns of alcohol use follows. Some of the changes reported here may not be statistically significant.
Abstainers: the 2000 figure was 10.2 percent; 2001, 10.6 percent
Drank, but did not binge: 2000, 27.8 percent; 2001, 23 percent.
Occasional binge drinker (one to two times in the two weeks prior to the survey): 2000, 25.8 percent; 2001, 29.1 percent.
Frequent binge drinker (three or more times in the two weeks prior to the survey): 2000, 36.2 percent; 2001, 37.3 percent.
Percentage who binged: 2000, 62 percent; 2001, 66 percent.