Posts Tagged ‘Drinking Laws’

How to Stop Binge Drinking in Colleges? – A Student’s Perspective

Posted on Sep 28, 2011

A lot of attention has been directed towards the issue of binge drinking on college campuses. However the students perspective on the effects of binge driving can hardly be found. Binge drinking has been defined by some as “people drinking an extremely large amount of alcohol in a small amount of time”, but there is no universally agreed upon definition of binge drinking. This is a cause of concern as the underlying causes and solutions to control binge drinking can only be devised once the term has been defined.

Binge Drinking Is Not a Simple Notion to Understand For Students

To date, the number of drinks one must consume in one sitting for it to be regarded as binge drinking incident have not been pinned down. Experts cannot agree on the volume of drinking and the time period for binge drinking episodes. Recently a survey of college students was published that stated that the majority of co-eds believe that binge drinking constitutes drinking 5 or more standard drinks for men, and 4or more for women, in one hour. However this definition is indistinct and there are variables that are not taken into account in this definition. Drunk driving can be defined by the results of a test of bodily fluids, or motor skills, however binge drinking avoids easy definitions.

The Dilemma in Passing Tough Binge Drinking Laws

If a college student attached a funnel to a keg of beer and attempted to consume its contents, would this be considered as binge drinking? Most people would think so. However, it does not fit the definition of binge drinking according to college students surveyed. Think about the unpredictable results of the above action. It could lead to anything from death via alcohol poisoning to a student waking up with a hangover the next morning. This example reveals how hard it is to pass a law against such actions with offers such mixed results after completion.

No Legislative Solution Possible to Curb Binge Drinking

Like students most lawmakers see the dilemma of this solution and realize how unfeasible it is to find a person guilty of binge drinking without an agreed upon definition of the problem. In addition, many students see binge drinking as a problem that only affects the drinker. If they get behind the wheel of a car, there are already laws that cover drunk driving; also there are laws against public drunkenness and underage drinking. Therefore, this problem seems to defy legislative solutions.

A Drinking Deterrence Approach– The Only Way to Stop Binge Drinking

Some experts suggest that in order to stop binge drinking, laws targeting drinking specifically will have better results. Considering this, many students have proposed that campuses begin efficient anti-alcohol consumption programs to curb binge drinking.

Community Effort is Required to Curb Binge Drinking

It appears that the solitary solution to stop binge drinking will be a change in societies’ view on consumption of alcohol in general. Limiting or ending this kind of conduct requires community effort as this is something that students cannot manage by themselves.

Alcohol, Drinking Law, Teenage Drunk Drivers, Underage DrinkingNo Comments »Alcohol Binge Drinking Colleges Drinking Laws

Binge Drinking Laws across the US

Posted on Aug 02, 2010

There is a surprising lack of binge drinking laws in the United States. Binge drinking is when people drink excessively in a short period of time. There is no agreed upon textbook definition on how many drinks one must drink for episode of drinking to be called binge drinking or a certain time period. However in the United States, binge drinking often means drinking five or more average drinks for men (four or more drinks for women) in sixty minutes for an average adult. One can see the obvious dilemma with this definition it is vague and there are many variables that are not considered.

Passing Tough Binge Drinking Laws in the United States Can Be Tricky

But how does a college student attaching a hose to a keg and attempting to suck it dry fit into the above definition? I think we can all agree that this should be considered binge drinking, yes? However, consider the variables in the results of such actions and you can see the dilemma and this can probably explain why there is currently no binge drinking laws per se in any of the 50 states. Most legislators being lawyers can see that it would be nearly impossible to convict anyone of this crime in a court of law and with the affect of such drinking only causing harm to the DWI offenders it would be tough constitutionally for any such law to stand. It would be like passing laws to limit cholesterol consumption to curb heart disease or binge smoking.

Binge Drinking Problem Can Not Be Cured By Laws

It seems that targeting the problem of binge drink cannot be solved by magic bullet laws that specifically address the issue. The only states that have shown marginal success are ones the pass multiple legislations that focus on the purchase of large quantities of alcohol.

Laws Targeting the Supply Side of Binge Drinking Most Affective

A report from the government agency the Centre for Disease Control and Prevention(CDC) and an Ivy league schools public health organization says that states with laws that target peripheral environmental issues like low priced alcohol, special promotions, and the number of drinking establishments and alcohol retail outlets have had some success in lowering risky drinking in college students. However none of the laws specifically prohibit binge drinking or even mention binge drink because of the obvious issues stated above.

Societal Changes Must Be In Place for Change in the Status of Binge Drinking

It seems the only way to limit this sort of behavior will take social change on a societal level and then after the attitude of society changes in regard to drinking in general then this problem can be reduced.

An Anti-Drinking Prevention Strategy Will Reduce Binge Drinking

So laws that target drinking in general will have more of an effect on binge drinking than laws that are aimed at binge drinking specifically which are non-existent in America today. With this in mind the CDC recommends that states start effective anti-drinking prevention strategies that will have an affect for binge drinking, like increasing state alcohol taxes, enforcing minimum legal drinking-age laws, and enforcing laws prohibiting alcohol sales to already intoxicated persons.

Drinking LawNo Comments »Binge Drinking Drinking Laws