Alcohol consumption incurs a multitude of detrimental health risks on a population-wide basis in the United States, and it is one of the leading causes of preventable disease, disability, and mortality among adults. College student drinking poses a unique set of public health challenges due to the elevated prevalence of binge drinking and substance co-use in the demographic. Among undergraduate students, dangerous alcohol consumption is linked to poor outcomes in academic performance, physical health, mental health, and general safety. Due to these extensive repercussions, university administrators are tasked with implementing campus alcohol policies intended to mitigate the risks and harms alcohol use may cause in their respective student communities. This study evaluates the alcohol policies of undergraduate institutions using a qualitative assessment protocol.
A total of 15 undergraduate university administration offices were provided feedback and recommendations regarding their campus alcohol policies in 2016. Each school’s office reviewed the recommendations an implemented changes as deemed appropriate before each school’s policy was re-evaluated in 2019. The following qualitative measures were obtained for each policy: overall effectiveness, clarity, and interview data from each school’s representatives who attended to policy drafting/revision. Additional data collected included unique challenges each campus faced regarding alcohol use including geographic “hot spots” and potential barriers to policy change. The data was analyzed using a subjective coding protocol administered by two members of the research team before being reviewed by a third member.
Results of the study found the most frequently implemented change was that of prohibiting alcohol paraphernalia and/or kegs on campus. Additional prohibitions concerned increased ID checks, limiting the sale of high ABV products, and eliminating alcohol from student organization events. Around half of the schools were able to increase their readability scores (7). In the end all 15 schools installed new changes to their 2016 policies.
Takeaway: third-party review of university alcohol policies may provide additional insight for policymakers and administrators at undergraduate institutions in the United States.
Jernigan DH, Cureg JB, Mitchell M, Arria AM. Improving Campus Alcohol Policies Through Assessment and Scoring. Health Promotion Practice. Published online November 26, 2021:15248399211056302. doi:10.1177/15248399211056302