Binge Drinking Among College Students

It is undeniable that college students have a propensity for binge drinking. Some recent studies have shown that more than half of college students have been involved in binge drinking at least once during their college lives. Even more concerning is that binge drinking among college students has become increasingly common in recent years.

Why is binge drinking so prevalent among college students? Is it safe to engage in such behavior, especially in light of recent legislation discouraging driving under the influence? What can universities do to combat this trend? These are some of the questions that I intend to address in this article.

Scare tactics have helped to reduce binge drinking among college students on college campuses in the USA

The US government, law enforcers, educators, and parents have used several tactics and interventions to reduce binge drinking among college students. Lately, there has been a shift from conventional to scare tactics. In this case, government agencies use tactics designed to cause fear or alarm to discourage binge drinking among college students. These tactics include using horror stories about the consequences of excessive drinking. The narratives often contain fatal accidents, health risks, or academic problems linked to excessive alcohol consumption. It is common to find giant billboards displaying accident scenes near colleges. In some incidents, wrecked cars are hosted by the roadside to send the message more vividly. Another scare tactic is showing images of car accidents caused by drunken driving at college parties.

Alongside the scare tactics, the government and other stakeholders have continued to pursue legislative avenues to fight binge drinking. First, there has been a push to decrease access to alcohol on college campuses. The move involves everything from installing more surveillance cameras and increasing penalties for those who sell alcohol to minors to increasing funding for police officers who patrol college campuses and ensuring adequate lighting on campus. The US government has also enacted laws restricting underage students' use of alcoholic beverages. For example, the Twenty-First Amendment to the US Constitution prohibits states from establishing a minimum drinking age.

Additionally, the US government has funded programs for reducing college students' binge drinking. These programs, such as the College Alcohol Safety Program (CASP), provide educational materials and support to college students. Educational campaigns have also played a significant role in reducing the instances of binge drinking among college students. For example, the "Drink Responsibly" campaign significantly reduced drinking and driving among college students. Finally, law enforcement has proactively addressed binge drinking on college campuses. For example, police have been conducting periodic bar checks to ensure that alcoholic beverages are sold to over twenty-one-year-olds only, in correct quantities, and in the right places.

While the government's measures have reduced cases of binge drinking, ending it is another thing altogether. Many students continue to waste away in colleges, ruining their futures. Interestingly, most students reduce their alcohol intake between the ages of 24 to 27 years. However, at this time, it is often too late to catch up with classwork and career development. Do not let a few bottles of beer prevent you from keeping pace with other students. If you've had too much to drink, use an online paper writing service to do your assignments. An essay writing company like CustomWritings provides customized papers for college students at affordable rates. Their writers are dedicated to quality and timely delivery, ensuring you miss no deadlines. Most importantly, they have several free offers, making their essays cheap. Try them today, and you'll not regret it.

Causes of binge drinking among college students in the USA

The general binge drinking statistics among college students are worrying. Binge drinking has become a public health problem. But what are its key drivers? To begin with, the wide availability of alcohol on campuses is a significant influence. Many colleges have alcohol policies that allow students to drink unlimited alcohol on campus, which encourages students to drink excessively. The social environment on campus is another problem. Many students attend college social events where they serve large quantities of alcohol for free or at a low cost. Free or cheap alcohol suits even the underprivileged students, increasing the number of drunkards. Increased social pressure is another driver. Many college students feel pressured to drink excessively. This pressure comes from friends, classmates, and even coaches. In one of his statements, President Obama claimed that he was once a victim of social pressure and experimented with some drugs while in college. Students are more likely to give in to alcohol when pressured by peers and people they value. Furthermore, academic-related stress is to blame. Students sometimes struggle to balance school assignments, personal life, and jobs. While some students find the right balance, others fail, leading to poor academic performance and drug abuse. Lastly, inconsistent enforcement of alcohol laws is also responsible for binge drinking. The alcohol laws clearly state where, when, how, and to whom alcohol is sellable. However, most vendors and users violate them, allowing underage drinking and alcohol abuse.

Worrying binge drinking statistics

Binge drinking has several undesirable statistics. According to estimates, more than 60 million Americans binge drink at least once a month, risking their health and well-being in one sitting. The problem is getting worse among students.

• Students who engage in binge drinking are 11 times more likely to engage in other risky social behaviors such as unprotected sex, physical violence, smoking, and drug abuse.
• Every year, over 696,000 cases of physical assault are reported in colleges involving drunk perpetrators. Drunk students are also vulnerable to physical attacks, especially women.
• Every year, there are approximately 97,000 reported cases of date rape and assault perpetrated and experienced by drunk students. It is said that most victims of rape remain traumatized for the rest of their lives.
• One in four college students experience academic struggles linked to excessive drinking. Binge drinkers are more likely to miss classes. They are also more likely to get lower grades and are less likely to graduate on time.
• Binge drinking is also one of the most harmful behaviors for college students, as it contributes to over 1,700 deaths nationwide. Tragically, many of these students die needlessly from alcohol-related accidents that early intervention and appropriate health care could prevent.
• Binge drinkers also have a higher probability of developing cancer and other chronic diseases, involving in violent activities, getting unintentional injuries, and having poor pregnancy outcomes than other students.