Freshman year of college is the first year many students ever live away from their parents. With no parents to watch over them, no one to make sure they get home safe, and no education about alcohol and its consequences, many students abuse their new found freedom. Surrounded by very easily available alcohol, hundreds of students the same age as them, and no supervision, college students often engage in what is known as binge drinking. This dangerous consumption of five or more drinks in one sitting is sometimes seen as a rite of passage for college students, supported by friends, college culture, and media. Binge drinking is a very dangerous activity that can only be reduced by educating students about the dangers and consequences of alcohol.
Researchers have linked college drinking to at least 1,400 annual student deaths, 600,000 assaults of students and 500,000 accidental injuries. These statistics do not even mention the other consequences of alcohol, such as poor class attendance and grades, unwanted sexual activity, and dropping out of school because of alcohol abuse. There are many options of how to solve this ongoing problem on campuses. Colleges could ban alcohol on campus, in residence halls and at school events, however most parties are held in off campus housing so students will still have access to alcohol and most likely will consume alcohol in a more dangerous manner if it is banned from campus.
The most important thing to recognize is that it is not alcohol that is the problem, but the abuse of alcohol. Students who are uninformed about the dangers of alcohol are the ones who abuse alcohol. It is unrealistic to tell college students not to drink. The only way students will listen to this important information that could potentially save their lives is to tell them, “We know you may drink alcohol, we want to make sure you do is safely and smartly”. This way, students will become intrigued and much more likely to listen. Students do not want to...