September 03, 1999

SURVEY: MOST KU STUDENTS DRINK MODERATELY; PUBLIC HEALTH GRANT AIMS TO IMPROVE NUMBERS

LAWRENCE -- Most University of Kansas students drink moderately and behave responsibly when they do, according to a recent survey.

In a survey of KU undergraduates taken last spring, 18 percent said they do not consume alcohol. Two-thirds - 66 percent - say they consume zero to five drinks at a sitting.

The results of the survey are good news for Jannette Berkley-Patton, project facilitator for the Social Norms Media Campaign at KU. The survey results will be used to inform students about actual drinking behaviors versus misperceived alcohol use of KU students.

"We are very excited to get our survey results," Berkley-Patton said. "As this survey shows, the majority of KU students drink moderately and responsibly, if they choose to drink. It's so unfortunate when harmful incidents occur from drinking, but the good news is most of our students do not harm themselves or others when they drink." The survey showed most KU students:

After a campaign at Northern Illinois University emphasizing that most students drink moderately or not at all, drinking rates there decreased 44 percent. The approach was also successful at the University of Arizona.

"This data provides us with an excellent start to begin the work of bringing perceptions more in line with reality," Berkley-Patton said. "We're eager to address the alcohol issue with this positive approach instead of using 'scare-tactics' to help our students make responsible choices."

The public health program, the Kansas Social Norms Project, is funded by a grant from the Wichita-based Kansas Health Foundation for four and one-half years.

Contact: Tom Hutton, (785) 864-3256.

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