Binge drinking -- five or more drinks for males and four or more for females at a single sitting * is rising at an alarming rate on our nation's college campuses.
In surveys, 44 percent of college students report binge drinking. The problem occurs equally among underage people as it does among those who are at least 21 -- the minimum legal drinking age nationwide.
College binge drinkers are more likely to suffer negative consequences -- drunk driving incidents, poor academic performance and more.
They also adversely affect non-binging students who must deal with their disruptive behavior.
A national "report card" rating system for colleges and universities could help to highlight and promote the best models and practices from those institutions taking steps to address this crisis.
Ratings could be based on five sets of factors that determine a campus' environment when it comes to alcohol. These factors include state laws and local ordinances to reduce binge drinking, college alcohol policies and programs, enforcement of college policies, college binge drinking rates, associated health and social problems, and a school's history of binge drinking problems.
Consider the potential impacts of evaluating each state university system and giving out a letter grade.
These grades would be disseminated to college administrators and made available to parents and students. The end result: Students and parents would acquire a new tool to help decide which schools provide a safe and conducive learning environment.
Also, college administrators and lawmakers would have a concrete foundation for mounting a campaign against binge drinking -- for the safety of our college students.
Rating the colleges on alcohol issues is no small undertaking, but the benefits would be huge.
As an advocate for youth and a leader in the war against underage drinking, MADD has been working towards launching this project in the next year.
It's a long overdue tool for parents and a valuable one for our nation's institutions!
Karolyn Nunnallee is president of Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD) National.
Reprinted with the permission of College Parents of America (CPA), the only national membership association dedicated to helping parents prepare and put their children through college easily, economically and safely. CPA provides new information on savings strategies, financial aid, and other ways to help pay for college, advises parents on the individual opportunities and challenges they may encounter during their students' college years and serves as their advocate on Capitol Hill, in state capitals and on the nation's campuses. In addition, CPA offers families special values on products and services. For more on CPA, call oll free 1-888-256-4627 for automated inforation and an application, locally at 202-661-2170, visit www.collegeparents.org on the Internet or write College Parents of America, 700 13th Street, N.W., Suite 950, Washington, DC 20005.
Last Update: September 29, 1999