The University of Colorado at Boulder appears to have experienced a decline in the rate of binge drinking, according to the results of Harvard University's 2001 College Alcohol Survey. The binge drinking rate at CU-Boulder declined from 63 percent in 1999 to 54 percent in 2001.
Binge drinking is defined by Harvard as the consumption of five or more drinks in one session during the last two weeks for males and four or more drinks for females. The latest findings will be published in the "Journal of American College Health," which is based on results of the 2001 survey by Harvard University's School of Public Health.Ìý
More than 10,000 students at more than one hundred nationally representative, four-year colleges in 38 states are surveyed, including small religion-based schools and large public universities.
"We're encouraged by this reduction in irresponsible drinking behavior at CU, but we recognize that we still have a problem to address, as do most college campuses across the country," said Ron Stump, vice chancellor for student affairs.
"Many of these students come to us with binge drinking experiences from high school, but those numbers also seem to be declining as the competition to attend CU-Boulder has improved the quality of our incoming students. Our freshmen seem to have a better understanding of the demands on them to have a successful academic experience on this campus."
According to the 2001 Harvard numbers, the number of students at CU-Boulder who did not binge drink in high school or college increased from 31percent in 1999 to 39 percent in 2001.
CU-Boulder is one of 10 campuses participating in a grant-supported research project to address college drinking problems at American colleges and universities. This is the last year of the grant for the Boulder campus.
According to Peggy Bonner, A Matter of Degree program director, the improving statistics are an indication that a number of different programs may be paying off.Ìý
"This is a long-term societal problem and we realize that it won't be corrected overnight," Bonner said. "It will take long-term educational and environmental programs, both on campus and in the community, to make an impact."Ìý
Educational programs have been implemented at CU-Boulder such as a social norming advertising campaign, parent tips brochures, a new Women and Alcohol Committee, broadcast emails and a high school journalism workshop.
Environmental approaches include the beer ban at Folsom Field, a new three strikes alcohol policy, an underage fake ID enforcement program with Hill merchants called Cops in Shops, Hill clean-ups and finals week alternative activities.
For more information contact CU-Boulder's A Matter of Degree program at (303) 735-5218, or visit their web site at .