Alcohol Education for the College Campus

Abstract

It has come to be generally accepted that alcohol use — sometimes excessive — is “de rigeur” on the college campus. Occasionally this acceptance has blossomed into concern — witness the flurry of activity by many states to raise the legal drinking age after having lowered it to 18 in the early 1970s. Attention has subsequently focused on the age group particularly affected, the 18 to 21‐year‐olds caught in the public and legislative tug‐of‐war over what should constitute the legal drinking age. The inherent implication is that the legal drinking age should be the age at which most individuals are “adult enough” (i.e., emotionally mature) to make responsible decisions about alcohol use. However, since the majority of alcoholics and problem drinkers are over 21 years of age, it would seem that age alone is not enough to deter irresponsible alcohol use. Consequently, a renewed effort at alcohol education has arisen, with particular focus on the college campus where large numbers of 18–21‐year‐olds are concentrated.

Citation

Booth Page, P. (1983), "Alcohol Education for the College Campus", Reference Services Review, Vol. 11 No. 2, pp. 77-79. https://doi.org/10.1108/eb048810