Abusive and underage college drinking are significant
public health problems, and they exact an enormous
toll on the intellectual and social lives of students on
campuses across the United States.
Drinking at college has become a ritual that students
often see as an integral part of their higher-education
experience. Many students come to college with
established drinking habits, and the college
environment can exacerbate the problem. According to a national survey, almost 60
percent of college students ages 18−22 report drinking alcohol in the past month.1 And
almost 40 percent of them report binge drinking in the past 30 days.