Alcohol education

Alcohol education is the planned provision of information and skills relevant to living in a world where alcohol is commonly misused.

History in the United States

Teaching about alcohol consumption has been a controversial topic for schools in the United States has been controversial due to the differing viewpoints of Americans on the subject. A variety of educational methods that reflect these viewpoints have been developed and tried over the last century, but have yielded little behavioural change. These methods have included:^[1]

• an abstinence model — simply "don't do it"
• a social-economic model — which employs statistics demonstrating the likely effects of irresponsible drinking
• an alcoholism approach — which treats consumption of alcohol as a disease.
• an alternative approach — which seeks to offer alternatives to drinking.

College alcohol education

Alcohol programs and courses as a requirement of college students is a current, widespread movement to educate underage students about alcohol consumption in efforts to make binge drinking decrease, and safer students.

Currently 747 schools in the United States require some sort of alcohol education.^[2] Students must complete a program which educates them on the consequences of binge drinking. MADD states in a recent publication that 4 out of 5 college students drink and 100% of students surveyed said that drinking alcohol while in college has social benefits.^[3]. Most colleges have alcohol policies which restrict underage drinking and have consequences. Many schools also require an entrance program to be attended by all transfer students as well as freshman that make the dangers and the policies regarding alcohol clear. A documentary about the late 18 year old Gordie Bailey, is shown at many colleges.^[4]

Online courses are used in many schools. The most effective and widely used of these is AlcoholEdu, a population-level prevention program typically administered to all high school or college freshmen. ^[5]

In the United States, Collegedrinkingprevention.gov is a government funded website based through the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism which aims to change the drinking culture of college. Their report A Call to Action: Changing the Culture of Drinking at U.S. Colleges details how colleges and universities conduct alcohol programs. Publicly funded universities must comply with their standards as stated in their report.

See also

• Drug education

References

1. ^ Engs, Ruth C. (January/February 1981). "Responsibility and Alcohol". Journal of Health Education (American Alliance for Health, Physical Education, Recreation and Dance): 20–22. http://www.indiana.edu/~engs/articles/resp1.html. Retrieved 2009-07-03. 
2. ^ http://www.education.gov.yk.ca/pdf/2007-2008_education_annual_report.pdf
3. ^ "Addictive Behaviors : College versus the real world: Student perceptions and implications for understanding heavy drinking among college students". ScienceDirect. 2008-08-03. doi:10.1016/j.addbeh.2008.07.023. http://www.sciencedirect.com/science?_ob=ArticleURL&_udi=B6VC9-4T4J88K-4&_user=918210&_rdoc=1&_fmt=&_orig=search&_sort=d&view=c&_acct=C000047944&_version=1&_urlVersion=0&_userid=918210&md5=dba55c01b1eda4ee811a34057c9f7a53. Retrieved 2009-05-02. 
4. ^ Haze
5. ^ "www.alcoholedu.com". www.outsidetheclassroom.com. http://college.alcoholedu.com/faq.html. Retrieved 2009-05-02. 

External links

• Alcohol-related death rates almost double since 1991, news release, United Kingdom Office for National Statistics
• Alcoholism and Problem Drinking, Patient UK
• English 'booze culture' Targeted, BBC News
• Alcohol Statistics Scotland 2005, National Health Service, National Services Scotland
• Alcohol-Drug Education Service