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New Study Results Demonstrate Strong Student Support for 
Alcohol Prevention Policies

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

February 28, 2001

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Newton, Mass.: Results of a national study released today by Education Development Center, Inc. (EDC), indicate that there is strong support among college students for policies to restrict alcohol use. However, most students believe there is very little student support for such policies. These findings are consistent with a similar misperception among college students regarding drinking behavior: a majority believes that the level of drinking among their peers far exceeds actual drinking levels on campus. These new data have important implications for administrators who wish to address the campus alcohol issue.

The Social Norms Marketing Research Project (SNMRP), a five-year, $4 million study funded by the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA) and the U.S. Department of Education, is being conducted by EDC in conjunction with the Golden Key International Honour Society.

The Survey of College Alcohol Norms and Behavior was administered in the spring of 2000 to 5,400 randomly selected students at 18 participating schools. Results of baseline data demonstrate that students overestimate the degree of drinking among their peers across different measures of alcohol use.

• Seven out of 10 (69.2%) students incorrectly estimated that their peers consume more drinks per week than is actually the case. The average (mean) number of drinks consumed per week reported by all students in the study was 4.73, yet the mean number of drinks students perceived their peers to drink per week was 9.01.

• Nine out of 10 (89.2%) students incorrectly estimated that their peers consume more drinks when they party than is actually the case. The mean number of drinks consumed when students party was 3.35, yet the mean number of drinks students perceived their peers to drink when they party was 6.54.

This same pattern of results was found at each of the 18 participating schools. New data also demonstrate a similar misperception among students regarding support for stricter alcohol policies on campus:

• The number of students who supported each of 12 policies to restrict alcohol use was an average of 125.3% higher than the number of students who perceived their peers would support such policies.

The proportion of students who personally supported each policy was consistently higher than their perceptions of other students’ support for that option. This finding was consistent across each of the 18 schools that participated in the survey and across each of the 12 policies about which students were questioned. Data collected on actual versus perceived student support of specific policies yielded the following results:

Prohibition of kegs on campus: While 58.4% of students surveyed were in favor of this policy, only 26.2% of students believed there was student support for it.

• 77.1% of students supported stricter disciplinary sanctions for students who repeatedly violate campus alcohol policies, yet only 45.6% of students believed other students support this measure.
• 66.3% of students supported stricter penalties for the use of false IDs to purchase alcohol illegally, yet only 30.5% of students believed other students support this policy.

Restriction of advertising that promotes alcohol consumption at on-campus parties and events: 55.3% of students supported this policy, yet only 23.8% of students believed other students support it.

Undercover operations at bars, restaurants, and liquor stores: 52.4 % of students supported this measure to increase compliance with underage drinking laws, yet only 20.1% of students believed other students support it.

Making all residences on campus alcohol-free: 42.3% of students supported this policy, while only 18.9% of students believed other students support it.

"These data are important because they serve to encourage college and university administrators who wish to implement new alcohol policies but are reluctant for fear of negative student response" states William DeJong, principal investigator of the SNMRP. "Frequently, the most vigorous student voices responding to proposed campus alcohol policies come out in protest. This negative backlash belies an underlying ‘silent majority’ of students who are likely to favor new alcohol prevention policies."

Administrators who collect data regarding the extent of student support for policies and who then publicize to the campus community the actual level of this support can achieve positive changes in several ways:

1) Students who think that tougher measures are needed will learn that many of their peers agree and that they are part of a "silent majority." This information should embolden them to speak out, an action that campus officials can directly encourage.

2) Students may find it easier to serve on a campus task force or otherwise be active on this issue.

3) Administrators may be prompted to implement new policies and beef up enforcement on campus knowing that a majority of students are on their side.

4) The protests of students who oppose the new policies may be more restrained. A small number of students may act out their anger inappropriately, but this outcome is less likely if they know that most students support the changes.

Campuses that collect information regarding the level of student support for alcohol policies will likely find more student support than anticipated. Administrators armed with this factual information about student support can then implement or strengthen alcohol prevention policies and not be deterred by a vocal minority.

EDC is a nonprofit education and public health research and development organization that was founded in 1958 and is located in Newton, Massachusetts. The SNMRP is located within the Health and Human Development Division of EDC, which also houses the U.S. Department of Education’s Higher Education Center for Alcohol and Other Drug Prevention.

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