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The study found that, despite a uniform statewide policy, there was a substantial degree of variation among colleges in the degree to which these rules were enforced. It also was evident that rates of heavy drinking varied greatly among the schools. Researchers explained that some of this variation may be attributed to the student's demographic composition or the percentage of students living on campus, but the drinking rates also were associated with the variation in alcohol policy enforcement mentioned above.
The study specifically found that activities of campus security officers to limit alcohol possession and use on campus were related to student drinking rates. Campus security officers are likely to interact directly with student drinking while enforcing alcohol policies, and their reports of stricter alcohol policy enforcement were associated with lower levels of heavy drinking.
''It was interesting to see how students viewed their school's enforcement of alcohol policies,'' said Dr. John Knight, director of the Center for Substance Abuse Research at Children's Hospital Boston. ''It is clear that many of the colleges should review their alcohol control policies, consider greater enforcement, and provide more training and support to the officials dealing first-hand with enforcement.''
Knight and his colleagues were able to make a number of conclusions based on the results of their research, and they feel that although their study was observational, it does suggest a link between strict enforcement of alcohol policies and lower rates of underage drinking. The team plans to conduct a 2-year follow-up investigation into the effects of policy enforcement and student drinking.
The study was funded by the Substance Abuse Policy Research Program (SAPRP) of the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation. SAPRP funds policy research studies in alcohol, tobacco and drugs.
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