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PROFESSOR: STATE ABC SYSTEM CAN HELP CURB STUDENT DRINKING | |
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From: Media Relations August 24, 2000HARRISONBURG, Va. - Underage and high-risk drinking are major factors in the four leading injury-related causes of death - motor-vehicle crashes, homicides, suicides and drowning - among students under the age of 20, says the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. This statistic is supported by a "Journal of Health Education" study that found 49.5 percent of male and 28.1 percent of female students binge-drink at least once a week. One remedy being put forward is to enlist the aid of a source normally thought of as selling alcohol and enforcing alcohol-sales laws - the Alcoholic Beverage Control system. Jeanne Martino-McAllister, an associate professor of health sciences at James Madison University who studies substance abuse, was one of four representatives from Virginia who participated in a recent national symposium in San Diego that explored how state ABC agencies can help reduce underage and high-risk drinking at colleges and universities. "While ABC agencies are regulatory in nature, they have the potential to be particularly effective prevention partners in reducing underage and high-risk drinking by college and university students," said Martino-McAllister. "For example, state ABC authorities can work with higher education groups to garner support for prevention policies and enforcement, and through interagency cooperation and the development of coalitions." The symposium, organized by the Higher Education Center for Alcohol and Other Drug Prevention, generated a number of other suggestions for combating underage and high-risk drinking among students, including rewriting outdated state ABC codes, forming community prevention coalitions, and training bar and restaurant workers about responsible service. Martino-McAllister, who also serves on the Virginia Alcohol Leadership Council, was a panelist discussing "Statewide ABC Experiences with Higher Education" at the symposium. # # # Martino-McAllister may be reached at (540)568-7097, or by e-mail at martinjm@jmu.edu. cc |
 
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Publisher: Media Relations For Information Contact: JMU News Bureau |
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