CAL Alcohol Consumption: Policy, Awareness, Risk Reduction

**WHAT IS STUDENTS FOR A SAFER SOUTHSIDE?**

Students for a Safer Southside (SFSS) is a student-led group working to monitor and curb high-risk drinking among UC Berkeley students. We collaborate with University staff, community organizations, the Berkeley police force, and our peers to encourage safe, responsible consumption of alcohol.

The passage of the Berkeley Social Host Ordinance, which was researched and proposed by SFSS in March of 2007 was a major accomplishment for the group. However, there is much work to be done to promote awareness of the new city law among the UCB student population.

Under this new ordinance, any host who throws a party where there is underage drinking can be fined and cited. In other words, the ordinance holds the party host accountable for providing an environment that allowed underage drinking to occur. By the close of the 2007 Spring semester, many students were left unaware of the ordinance or inaccurately informed. With the coming Fall semester, SFSS is gearing up for outreach to incoming freshmen as well as the returning undergraduate and graduate students.

**IS COLLEGE DRINKING REALLY A PROBLEM?**

Results from the 2004 Safer California Universities Study (CSUS) conducted by the Pacific Institute for Research and Evaluation suggest YES.

In the case of UC Berkeley, the 2004 CSUS study found that 86.3% of students reported consuming alcohol in the past year. Of the 86.3%, 44% reported they had engaged in binge drinking within the last 2 weeks.

There is a more disturbing picture behind the consumption statistics: 31.4% of UCB drinkers in the study reported experiencing a severe personal problem as a result of their alcohol use, such as personal injury, sexual assault, or feeling suicidal. 41.2% reported a minor personal problem as a result of alcohol use: such as being hungover, missing class, or vomiting.

Even though high-risk college drinking seems to have become a social norm, the negative side effects that such behaviors pose for those who drink as well as their surrounding community cannot be overlooked. The intent of the Social Host Ordinance is to reshape the problematic environment where such harmful behaviors are present.

Project mission:

**PRIMARY GOAL**
To promote a safe and healthy community for UC Berkeley college students in the south-campus area by reducing high risk drinking as well as its associated negative consequences.

**SECONDARY GOALS**
-Produce professional materials that highlight community alcohol laws, police procedures, student rights, and ways to prevent citation and host a safe party

-Increase awareness of the recent Social Host Ordinance among UC Berkeley students

-Reduce the incidence of high-risk drinking at off-campus parties by 5% over the next 2 years

-Conduct surveys and focus groups with our peers and local neighborhood associations in an effort to evaluate impact

-Continue efforts to improve our methods of non-intrusive data collection (for monitoring the environment at college parties and local bars) over the next 2 years

Required resources:

1. Total project needs: $10,000

Project page URL:

• http://safersouthside.org/