The NCAA News - News and Features

October 13, 1997

Nation's campuses ready for alcohol awareness week

More than 3,000 campuses nationwide will observe National Collegiate Alcohol Awareness Week October 19-25.

This year's event again is sponsored by the Inter-Association Task Force on Alcohol and Substance Abuse Issues. The NCAA is a task force member.

The campaign's theme is "Majority Rules," a reference to the healthy choice that most students on campuses are making regarding alcohol use.

Citing a survey conducted during 1992-94 by the Core Institute at Southern Illinois University at Carbondale, the campaign reports that 67 percent of college students do not engage in binge drinking, 72 percent have not missed a class due to drinking, 70 percent have not gotten into a fight or argument while drinking and 67 percent have not driven under the influence of alcohol.

The survey also reports that 82 percent of college students say they prefer not to have illicit drugs present at social events.

Those findings are featured on posters and other promotional materials that are being provided for display and distribution on campuses. The materials were produced by the BACCHUS & GAMMA Peer Education Network.

Promotional materials or more information can be obtained by calling the BACCHUS & GAMMA national office at 303/871-0901, or from the organization's World Wide Web site (www.bacchusgamma.org).