Enforcing Alcohol Policies on College Campuses: Reports From College Enforcement Officials

• NCJ Number: 236856
• Journal: Journal of Drug Education Volume: 42 Issue: 3 Dated: 2011 Pages: 327-344
• Author(s): Traci L. Toomey, Ph.D.; Mark J. Miazga, J.D.; Kathleen M. Lenk, M.P.H.; Darin J. Erickson, Ph.D.; Ken C. Winters, Ph.D.; Toben F. Nelson, Sc.D.
• Date Published: 2011
• Length: 18 pages
• Sponsoring Agency: Robert Wood Johnson Foundation
• Publication Format: Article
• Publication Type: Research (Applied/Empirical)
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America

Annotation

This study examined the prevalence and use of alcohol enforcement practices among U.S. colleges.

Abstract

The authors assessed alcohol enforcement practices at 343 U.S. colleges via surveys of directors of campus law enforcement. The authors measured types and frequency of enforcement and barriers to enforcement. They found that 61 percent of colleges indicated nearly always proactively enforcing alcohol policies, with most frequent enforcement at intercollegiate sporting events and least frequent enforcement at fraternity/sorority events. Approximately half of the enforcement departments work closely with their local law enforcement agency but respondents indicated a greater need for cooperation with local law enforcement. Half of the respondents reported no barriers to alcohol enforcement on campus. Large colleges and public colleges tended to report greater enforcement levels. While many campuses report proactive alcohol enforcement, several areas of improvement in alcohol enforcement at colleges are indicated. (Published Abstract)