Students tipple more than national average
• • •
University students are general
ly heavier drinkers than
students around the nation,
according to a comparison
between a local survey and a national
study.
Nationally, 82.1 percent of students
drink — 86.4 percent of men and 79.4
percent of women — while about 92
percent of University students drink —
90.7 percent of men and 93.3 percent of
women. Drinking is defined as at least
one alcoholic beverage in the past
year.
The national survey results were
reported in the Jan. 19 edition of the
Chronicle of Higher Education as part
of a study recently completed by Ruth
Engs, an Indiana University associate
professor and David Hanson, an
associate professor at the State
University of New York College at
Potsdam.
Patty Gwartney-Gibbs, a University
associate sociology professor, com
piled a study of University students in
August 1982.
Gwartney-Gibbs says it’s difficult to
rely on figures taken from students
over the past year, because students
often don't remember accurately.
She says it's better to ask about
drinking habits over the past month or
week.
While statistics for drinking patterns
over the last month and week are fairly
consistent, there are "vast dif
ferences" in the accuracy of statistics
between monthly and weekly alcohol
intake and the data for a year.
For example, in the Gwartney-Gibbs'
study, when asked if they had drunk
within the last month, 86.4 percent of
men had had a drink and 84.4 percent
of women had imbibed, somewhat
lower than the yearly figures.
A comparison of the national
survey's results with a similar report
compiled in 1974 showed the propor
tion of students who drink alcoholic
beverages — about 80 percent — has
not changed over the past eight years
.. .though alchohol violations drop
While statistics shew violations of the student code dealing with alcohol
consumption and possession are decreasing, this may not mean students' drink
ing habits are changing, according to Vernon Barkhurst, associate dean of
students.
In 1980-81, 26 violations were reported of Section 4 of the student code,
which prohibits minors from consuming or possessing alcohol. In 1981-82, only
16 cases were reported, and so far in 1982 83 only six cases have been heard
Barkhurst says the failure of residence hall personnel to report alcohol
abuse incidents may account for the drop. Other violations of the student code
such as vandalism, assault and disorderly conduct have increased, he says
Barkhurst says a "substantial" number of violations of the student code are
due to alcohol-related problems.
Nationwide, almost three-fourths of college administrators say alcohol is in
volved in at least 40 percent of the instances of residence hall damage, according
to a recent survey.
The survey, was conducted by Angelo Gadaleto, director of counseling
center at Radford University and David Anderson, alcohol-education coordinator
at Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University.
The survey examines student drinking from perspectives of institutional
policy, drinking behavior, education and prevention and counseling and
treatment.
The survey also says the number of colleges with alcohol education pro
grams has increased from 69 percent in 1979 to 79 percent in 1982.
The national survey also notes that 77 percent of the colleges do not allow
alcohol to be advertised as the primary focus of a party. Some 74 percent require
nonalcoholic drinks be available at public functions that serve alcohol, and about
46 percent require food to be served as well.
tmetaia pnoio
A comparison shows University students are more-than-your-average tipplers.
and the proportion of heavy drinkers
has risen only slightly, says Engs and
Hanson.
Gwartney-Gibbs says the national
survey was unscientifically conducted
because it does not take a random
sample, and was distributed in
sociology and health classes, which
are not necessarily representative of
students.
The results may be biased because
students in sociology and health
classes may tend to be more aware of
alcohol-related problems she says.
“The survey had no business being
published," she says. “It is not a ran
dom sample. So what if 5,000 students
are surveyed. If it is not representative
it does not mean anything.”
Because the national study's "sam
ple is garbage,” comparing it to the
study done here, which did use a
representative sampling of students,
may be worthless, Gwartney-Gibbs
says.
The national survey noted an in
crease in the proportion of heavy
drinkers, jumping from 11.6 percent in
1974 to 17.2 percent in 1982. Heavy
drinkers are students who have six or
more drinks at one sitting more than
once a week.
The University study used an
average daily volume standard to
measure heavy drinking. Heavy
drinkers were those who drank more
than 1.5 drinks per day, with about 27
percent of men and 11 percent of
women judged to be heavy drinkers.
The number of women who are
heavy drinkers rose from 4.4 percent in
1974 to 11.4 percent in 1982 nationally
and is at 11 percent at the University.
Gwartney-Gibbs suggests the in
crease could be accounted for by an in
crease in the number of women willing
to admit they are heavy drinkers
because it is more socially acceptable.
According to the Chroniole, many
college administrators are alarmed
about the increased use of alcohol, but
Engs suggests in her study that the
change is an increased awareness of
the problem by administrators rather
than a change in student drinking
habits.
Stories by
Sandy Johnstone
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