Responsibility on the Rocks

The National College Health Association released a study last week of more than 28,000 students attending 44 colleges and universities that found that 73 percent of student drinkers engage in "protective behaviors" while drinking. The study claims disciplinary actions in controlling alcohol abuse are largely inadequate, and implies that they are unnecessary. \nThe results of the study were touted as progressive, suggesting that more and more students are practicing self-control and being more responsible in their "partying" rituals, leaving college officials with the mere task of "doing what they can to encourage the protective behaviors." These include determining in advance not to exceed a set number of drinks, choosing not to drink alcohol, using a designated driver, eating before and during drinking, having a friend keep track of consumption, keeping track of one's own consumption, pacing drinks to one or fewer per hour, avoiding drinking games and drinking non-alcoholic look-alikes.\nMoreover, the study noted that seven out of 10 students surveyed reported that they sometimes or usually refrain from drinking alcohol when they socialize, making "situational abstinence" another protective factor.\nWell, that's great -- for them.\nThe National Social Norms Resource Center took the results from that study and ran with them, claiming in a press release's headline that "College Students Play it Safe." This suggests that since a majority of the students that were surveyed incorporate one of these "protective behaviors," employing them must be a trend among college students nationwide.\nNot only can the assumptions that all college students are being more responsible when it comes to alcohol, and that punitive punishment is ineffective, be critiqued -- so can the quality of the survey in general.\nThe "protective behaviors" certainly promote safety and are well-intended. They attempt to "be real" and acknowledge that college students will binge drink no matter the consequence, and that the task at hand should be to allow that to occur -- but in a way that will avoid injury. Still, some of them are questionable, especially in terms of them being called a "protective behavior."\nChoosing not to drink is not a means of protection, it is a lifestyle choice. Moreover, to assign a designated driver does make for a safe ride home, but it is still an enabler for binge drinking. For many, it is an assurance, a motivator, even, to go out and get completely hammered.\nMore questionable is college officials' responsibility to have to "encourage" the "protective behaviors." With studies from Harvard showing that alcohol prevention programs are not influential in decreasing alcohol abuse rates, to assign such a vague task to college officials is a weak effort.\nWhat must be questioned and researched is the college culture that makes drinking necessary for having "fun." What or who perpetuates the idea that alcohol is essential to enhance one's free time activities must be considered, and a meaningful understanding must be developed, before change can be achieved.