Safer University Program Reduces Alcohol Problems
The Safer California Universities study was designed to
identify those areas of the campus environment in which
heavy and dangerous drinking occurred and to implement
strategies to change that environment in positive ways.
The study involved 14 large public universities in the state,
half of which were assigned randomly to the Safer
intervention condition.
Interventions included 1) nuisance party enforcement
operations that stepped up police response to disruptive
parties, 2) minor decoy operations to prevent sales of
alcohol to minors, 3) driving-under-the-influence
checkpoints, and 4) social host ordinances that held party
hosts or organizers responsible for nuisance parties.
Campus and local media were used to maximize the
visibility of environmental strategies.
The results showed that students were significantly less
likely to become intoxicated at off-campus parties and
bars/restaurants at the Safer intervention universities
compared to the control campuses. Significantly fewer
students at the Safer intervention schools also reported
that they became intoxicated the last time they drank at an
off-campus party; a bar or restaurant; or across all
settings.
There was no increase in intoxication in other settings.