Binge drinking survey no surprise

Students see alcohol as central to campus social life. "You drink because there is nothing else to do,'' says one.

By BABITA PERSAUD, Times Staff Writer
© St. Petersburg Times
published April 19, 2002

TAMPA -- A national survey that shows alcohol abuse remains at alarming levels among college students has created a buzz among academics and lawmakers.

But in the target audience?

"I didn't hear about it," says Nancy Edwards, 19, a mass communications major at the University of South Florida.

Neither did a lot of other USF students, though few were surprised when told the results.

"Everybody drinks, even if you're underage," says Diana Smith, 20.

The report, released last month, was the product of a three-year survey conducted by researchers at the Harvard School of Public Health. They found that seven in 10 traditional college students -- 18- to 23-year-olds who do not live with their parents -- are binge drinkers.

About 75 percent of all students who live at fraternities and sororities were classified as binge drinkers. Binge drinkers are men who down five or more drinks in a row and women who have four or more drinks in a row.

Such behavior is taking a significant toll on the college-age population.

About 1,400 college students between the ages of 18 and 24 die every year of alcohol-related injuries, which include auto accidents and alcohol poisoning.

More than 600,000 students are assaulted by a student who has been drinking. And 2.1-million students drove last year under the influence of alcohol.

"There is a lot of pressure to drink and do other things," says Syvester Pittman Jr., 20, an education major at USF. "At parties, alcohol is in your face."

"I think people just drink because they want to drink," said Chance Bryan, 21, a finance major. "I personally like to drink, so I drink a lot. I go to Ybor and I never remember coming home."

Other researchers who have studied drinking among college students urged university administrators to create education programs that would begin "changing the culture of drinking at U.S. colleges."

That won't be easy.

"There's a lot of keg parties, and in your spare time, you drink. It's just one of those things. You drink because there is nothing else to do," said Stephen Lytle, 20, a political science major and member of Tau Kappa Epsilon fraternity.

But he's noticed something as he gets older.

"I think you learn in time because I don't drink as much as I used to when I was under 21," Bryan said. "It's a learning process."

Of course, not everyone at USF drinks.

"I say, "Hey, I don't drink.' And they leave me alone," says Lucious Holloman Jr., a business major. "I've seen a lot of people mess up their lives because of drinking."

-- Times researcher Kitty Bennett contributed to this report.

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