‘Binge Drinking Is No Big Deal’

The Los Angeles Times recently reported a nationwide survey that claimed that more than 46% of college students were binge drinkers--men who consume five or more drinks in one sitting, women who consume four or more drinks. From my experience, I must say the report is inaccurate; the number of college binge drinkers is much higher.

The biggest problem with this survey is its label. Students may drink excessively and even binge, but would never classify themselves as binge drinkers. I know I’ve often consumed four or more drinks at a time but would never call myself a binge drinker.

College is the first time many students have been away from home and free from parental control. Sometimes they do not handle this freedom well. They do party too much. They do drink too much. Few college students haven’t gone to a party and had too much to drink. That’s no excuse for losing control or for unruly behavior. But just about every student I know drinks the way I do: Sunday through Thursday, we are simply students. Come Friday and Saturday, we’re off to have a good time.

Some colleges try to stop binge drinking by going “dry,” not allowing alcohol at fraternities or tailgate parties and cracking down on underage drinking. Parents and community leaders often praise the restrictions. I think this is a horrible approach. By trying to get rid of alcohol, colleges end up driving it underground or off-campus where it is much more difficult to regulate. Would you rather have students drinking and walking back to their dorms or drinking and then driving?

Besides, cutting off the supply of alcohol will not stop binge drinking. Students will find what they want, even if it means driving great distances for it. If alcohol is consumed on the campus, you have other students as well as the campus police looking out for the drinkers. Compared to bars, college campuses offer a controlled environment. You know the people you are drinking with. The customers at bars are far less predictable.

I do realize that alcohol can ruin lives and cause harm to innocent people. But the worst I have seen on campus is guys full of liquid courage fighting each other. Their fight is usually broken up within minutes and both men walk away with nothing but bruised egos.

I don’t see anything wrong with indulging in liquor one or two nights a week so long as you can function well the rest of the week. In my case, I am a good student with two majors, holding down two jobs and volunteering at the campus health center. I plan to go to law school and look forward to a productive life, and I am accomplishing this while occasionally binge drinking.

University officials must realize that trying to stop alcohol consumption on campus will not stop us from drinking. To make students drink responsibly, you must change their attitudes about alcohol, not try to take it away. If Prohibition taught us anything it is that when people want alcohol, they will find it.

Shauna Durrant is a senior at USC, majoring in political science and journalism.