Support for alcohol-control policies and enforcement strategies among US college students at 4-year institutions.

OBJECTIVE

The authors examined college student support for policies and enforcement strategies to reduce alcohol problems on campus.

PARTICIPANTS

A random sample of students from each of 32 four-year colleges and universities participated.

METHODS

Students completed an anonymous mail survey.

RESULTS

A majority of students supported 5 of the 12 policy proposals. Whatever percentage of students indicated support for a policy, a far smaller percentage reported that other students supported it. The majority at all 32 schools supported using stricter disciplinary sanctions for students who engage in alcohol-related violence and repeatedly violate campus alcohol policy. The majority at more than half of the schools supported applying stricter penalties for the use of false IDs to purchase alcohol illegally and prohibiting kegs on campus.

CONCLUSIONS

Higher-education administrators should survey students to learn which policies a majority of their students will endorse.