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Positive Trends from the College Alcohol Study The College Alcohol Study (CAS) is a survey of undergraduate students conducted annually at the University of Wisconsin–Madison since 1997. The purpose of the survey is to collect information regarding patterns of alcohol use by UW-Madison students, as well as their experiences with various types of alcohol-related prevention and control efforts. Drinking Behavior The binge drinking rate, defined as having binged at least one time within a two-week period, has dropped from 67% in 1999 to 59% in 2004. Also, the number of students who report that they usually binge when they drink has declined from 54% in 1999 to 47% in 2004. Negative Effects of Drinking From 1997 to 2004, there have been drops in the negative effects UW-Madison students experience from drinking. The percentage of students who reported missing a class has dropped 8% within that time period (from 41% to 33.5%) and the number of students reporting having had five or more alcohol related problems dropped 6% (from 26% to 20%). Also, the number of students reporting having been a victim of an unwanted sexual advance as a result of others’ drinking has declined by 4% from 1997 to 2004. Despite these declines, there have been increases in the number of student who report that they have gotten into trouble with campus or local police as a result of drinking (6% in 1997 to 8% in 2004) and that they have had to “babysit” a drunken student (61% in 1997 to 70% in 2004). Policy and Education Between 1997 and 2004, there was a 14% increase (from 40% to 54%) in students reporting that they were provided with information regarding UW–Madison’s rules for drinking and a 23% increase (from 43% to 66%) in students reporting that they were warned of the dangers of an alcohol overdose. There were also increases in the percentage of students reporting that that they received information from the University regarding the long term health effects of heavy drinking, how to recognize when someone has a drinking problem, where to get help for alcohol-related problems, and penalties for breaking college rules for drinking. In terms of student support for university policies regarding alcohol, 54% of students said that they supported a university crackdown on underage drinking in 2004 (a 5% decrease in support from 1997). In 2004, 56% of students supported holding hosts responsible for problems arising from alcohol (a 9% decrease in support from 1997) and 63% supported stricter enforcement of alcohol rules (a 1% decrease in support from 1997). The three most popular university policies regarding alcohol, according to students, were offering alcohol-free dorms, letting students drink regardless of age, and making alcohol rules clearer. Perceptions In terms of perceptions of how strongly the university enforces its alcohol policy, only 3% of students in 2004 reported that the policy was strongly enforced. There has been an 8% drop in the number of students reporting that the university’s policy is enforced (from 31% in 1999 to 22% in 2004). There has been a 10% increase in the number of students reporting that the university’s alcohol policy is weakly enforced (from 36% in 1999 to 46% in 2004). There has been a 7% drop in students who report they do not know the university’s alcohol policy. Additionally, between 1997 and 2003, 5% more students reported that the university’s policy regarding student drinking should have greater restrictions (from 11% to 16%), while 14% more students reported that the policy should have fewer restrictions (from 18% to 32%). Also, the majority of underage students surveyed from 1997 to 2004 reported that it was either very easy or easy to obtain alcohol. However, it appears as if students’ perceptions about the ease of obtaining alcohol are decreasing. The percentage of underage students reporting that it was “very easy” to obtain alcohol dropped from 59% in 1997 to 45% in 2003.
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To get involved
with the PACE Project, contact us at pace@news.wisc.edu. |
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