Why do college students drink excessively?

There is a common belief/expectation that this is normal college behavior, and therefore people consider college alcohol abuse a rite of passage.
There are also gross and widespread misperceptions of what constitutes ‘normal’ drinking behavior in college. These perceptions lead to increased drinking, as students drink more to attempt to "fit in" with their peers.
Many colleges and their surrounding communities have lax enforcement of local laws, ordinances, and campus alcohol policies. Lax academic requirements can also exacerbate the problem, with few classes scheduled on Fridays and easy course requirements enabling a lot of free time for students to drink.
The availability of alcohol is also a problem, with many bars surrounding college campuses, and little regard for underage drinkers.
Many schools lack of alcohol-free options for students, so that positive forms of recreation are not available. Without these options, students are not getting the message that there are other ways to enjoy themselves that don’t involve alcohol.

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