Growing and Persistent Problem Related

¶ … growing and persistent problem related to the consumption of alcoholic beverages by mostly underage drinkers on college and university campuses. Some of these underage drinkers (and of course those 21 years of age and older) often find themselves drinking far too much and end up either in the hospital or the cemetery as a result of alcohol poisoning or some type of accident directly related to being intoxicated. Exactly how to solve this problem on America's college and university campuses is not clear, yet many institutions of higher learning have adopted programs and initiatives to help prevent excessive drinking and to cut down on the number of underage drinkers.

Alcohol abuse shown be prevented because first, it will save many young people from an early death; second, it will help prevent the onset of future health problems in young people, such as diseases of the liver, pancreas and kidneys; and third, it will save taxpayers millions of dollars annually by eliminating the need to take intoxicated drinkers to the emergency room and through the prevention of automobile accidents which raise insurance premiums for everyone in society.

Our Proposed Ideas:

First of all, underage drinkers must be made aware of the possible health problems related to the excessive use of alcohol; second, all on-campus parties must be screened for underage drinkers; and third, campus security must be allowed to actively pursue those who provide alcohol to underage drinkers.

Benefits:

First, all colleges, universities and their students would benefit by 1), eliminating the threat of lawsuits brought by parents of underage drinkers, especially in cases involving physical injury and death; 2), it would make all campus-based parties safer for those who attend; and 3), it would save money by allowing campus security to attend to more serious crimes and behaviors.

Implementation:

1), Make it unlawful for underage drinkers to bring alcohol on college and university campuses; 2), make it mandatory that all on-campus parties must be monitored by campus security personnel; and 3), increase the penalties for store owners who sell alcohol to underage persons.

Recommendations:

Although some of these suggestions may be difficult to implement, there should be some type of direct communications between college/university administrators and the parents of all underage students on their respective campuses.

SUMMARY:

The ranking by the College and University Review of MU as the #1 "party school" is an irresponsible action because it causes students to have distorted ideas about the school, such as expressed by Janie Adams who believes the ranking is a good thing.

A recent study has concluded that the kind of attitude expressed by Ms. Adams is widespread and it seems the numbers bear this out because 72% of college students have admitted to using alcohol at least once a month and 84% have admitted to using alcohol during the past year (Schultz, 2006, p. 98).

The mother of a college-aged son who died because of using alcohol on campus has admitted that she would have had second thoughts about sending her son to the school.

Following a recent meeting at MU, President Harrison created an Alcohol Awareness Task Force made up of students whose task was to research and develop solutions for the drinking culture at MU.

1. The ranking of MU as the #1 "party school" is an irresponsible action.

2. The use of alcohol on campus by college/university students is definitely out of control.

3. Parents would be advised to do some research on the use of alcohol by students at all colleges/universities.