Drinking on Campus

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WHEREAS, according to a new survey by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, binge drinking is on the rise in the United States and is climbing fastest among 18- to 20-year-olds who are too young to drink legally; and

WHEREAS, this survey also revealed that episodes of binge drinking, defined as having five or more drinks in one sitting, increased 17 percent among all adults between 1993 and 2001, and shot up 56 percent among 18- to 20-year-olds; and

WHEREAS, United Methodist colleges do provide an environment suitable for pursuing a higher education in a Christian atmosphere; and

WHEREAS, the United Methodist-related colleges and universities do have policies related to alcohol use and abuse on the campuses; and

WHEREAS, the United Methodist-related colleges and universities spent over $1.5 million to address issues related to alcohol abuse on their campuses; and

WHEREAS, many students nationwide continue to engage in binge drinking and drinking to get drunk, with an alarming percentage of students reporting alcohol-related incidents, such as missing classes, personal injuries, sexual assault, or other forms of violence and vandalism;

Therefore, be it resolved, that The United Methodist Church continue to address this issue through:

1. collaborating with the Special Program on Substance Abuse and Related Violence (SPSARV) staff and Interagency Task Force and the General Board of Higher Education and Ministry, and partnering with the college presidents and/or staff of United Methodist-related institutions, as well as other agencies and programs that are working on the issue of reducing college drinking;

2. promoting an alternative lifestyle that encourages "wellness" without drugs and alcohol, seeking authentic advocates for this alternative lifestyle, and having these advocates promote this image on United Methodist campuses around the world;

3. carrying out the five components of SPSARV on college campuses: Leadership Development, Community Demonstration Programs, Advocacy, Grants, and Educational and Promotional Resources;

4. strongly recommending that United Methodist-related colleges and universities uphold abstinence from drinking alcohol as a viable and faith-based option, and that these institutions provide/continue to provide programming and social events that foster such an environment;

5. strongly urging campus leadership to remove alcohol-promoting advertisements from the campuses and sports events.

ADOPTED 2004

See Social Principles, ¶ 162J.