NCJ Number
218078
Journal
Journal of Alcohol and Drug Education Volume: 50 Issue: 4 Dated: December 2006 Pages: 35-54
Date Published
December 2006
Length
20 pages
Annotation
This study examined the effect of dry college campus policies on alcohol-related problems.
Abstract
Results show compelling evidence that the campus alcohol policies can only have a limited effect on the drinking patterns of college students. The results also suggest that the risk groups, such as Greeks or freshman, also are at risk on dry campuses and that commonly used prevention programs are needed on most dry campuses as well. Many of the factors that affect the prevalence and patterns of heavy drinking among college students are social, demographic, and environmental. To prevent college alcohol abuse and alcohol-related problems, many colleges have maintained “dry” campuses where alcohol sales and consumption are banned. However, few researchers have examined whether dry campuses are less affected by alcohol, specifically the effect of dry campus policies on alcohol consumption and alcohol-related problems. This study surveyed drinking patterns on dry campuses to evaluate such alcohol policies. The results were examined describing drinking trends on two campuses where alcohol was severely prohibited. The study compared characteristics of these two dry campuses with respect to students’ demographic, social, and academic characteristics and described the colleges’ general drinking trends. Tables, references