Citation

Marchell TC, Lewis DD, Croom K, Lesser ML, Murphy SH, Reyna VF, Frank J, Staiano-Coico L. J. Am. Coll. Health 2013; 61(6): 324-334.

Affiliation

a Gannett Health Services, Cornell University , Ithaca , New York.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2013, Informa - Taylor and Francis Group)

DOI

10.1080/07448481.2013.788008

PMID

23930747

Abstract

OBJECTIVE: This research extends the literature on event-specific environmental management with a case study evaluation of an intervention designed to reduce student drinking at a university's year-end celebration. Participants: Cornell University undergraduates were surveyed each May from 2001 through 2009. Sample sizes ranged from 322 to 1,973. METHODS: Randomly sampled surveys were conducted after a large, annual spring campus celebration. An environmental management plan was initiated in 2003 that included increased enforcement of the minimum legal drinking age (MLDA) law. RESULTS: In the short term, drinking at the campus celebration decreased while drinking before the event increased. Over time, the intervention significantly reduced high-risk drinking on the day of the event, especially among those under the age of 21. CONCLUSION: These findings are contrary to the argument that enforcement of MLDA laws simply leads to increased high-risk drinking, and therefore have implications for how colleges approach the challenge of student alcohol misuse.

Language: en