Spring Break
Region tops in nation for underage drinking
Western Wisconsin has highest rates in nation, university 10 percent above national average, according to study
Nicole Strittmater
Issue date: 2/25/08 Section: News
"What makes the news is people who are doing something ridiculous," she said. "That's who people talk about the next day, and I think that perpetuates the myth that everybody's doing it."
Lee said the university's own surveys found 47 percent of students didn't binge drink within the last two weeks, and 23 percent didn't drink at all in the last 30 days.
Ninety percent of students said they won't ride with an intoxicated driver or drive drunk, and the percentage of reported drunk driving went down from 42 percent in 2002 to 27 percent in 2007, she said.
According to the University Police 2007 Annual Report, police dealt with 155 underage drinking cases.
Sophomore Ashley Treml, who received an underage drinking ticket her freshman year, said she never feels pressured to drink.
"Even in high school there wasn't a lot of pressure," she said. "But I know a lot of other high schools where there's a lot more pressure."
In 2004, 1,409 people between 12 and 20 years old were admitted for alcohol treatment in Wisconsin, accounting for 8 percent of all admissions in the state, according to the consortium's research. Of the 15,342 people between 12 and 20 years old in Eau Claire County, it estimated 1,085 have a serious alcohol problem, and 85 percent do not receive treatment.
The consortium distributed school questionnaires and found 52 percent of local 12th graders reported having five or more glasses of beer, wine or liquor within a few hours, compared to 48 percent nationally. Thirty percent of those 12th graders reported they drove cars after or while drinking alcohol, compared to 27 percent nationally.
Between local eighth and tenth-graders, 28.6 percent reported alcohol use, and 46.2 percent of 12th graders reported use.
Captain Jeff Pettis of the Eau Claire County Sheriff's Department said his department has been aggressive when dealing with underage drinking, but the thing that's the scariest is that it sees parents throwing underage parties.
"How do you control that?" Pettis said. "Parents are becoming more permissive to allow it under their guidance, which is totally illegal, but it makes it much harder for us to enforce."
To combat the underage drinking problem, the department became involved with the consortium, started educating children through the DARE program and strictly enforces events such as Country Jam to make sure underage people can't obtain alcohol.
Senior Chris Nielson said he didn't drink underage, but there is a problem on campus.
"It is an issue that we do have to address, but it's not something everybody's doing," he said. "You can have friends without alcohol. There are lots of things going on on campus, and if there aren't things going on, you can make things happen with friends."
Lee said the university's own surveys found 47 percent of students didn't binge drink within the last two weeks, and 23 percent didn't drink at all in the last 30 days.
Ninety percent of students said they won't ride with an intoxicated driver or drive drunk, and the percentage of reported drunk driving went down from 42 percent in 2002 to 27 percent in 2007, she said.
According to the University Police 2007 Annual Report, police dealt with 155 underage drinking cases.
Sophomore Ashley Treml, who received an underage drinking ticket her freshman year, said she never feels pressured to drink.
"Even in high school there wasn't a lot of pressure," she said. "But I know a lot of other high schools where there's a lot more pressure."
In 2004, 1,409 people between 12 and 20 years old were admitted for alcohol treatment in Wisconsin, accounting for 8 percent of all admissions in the state, according to the consortium's research. Of the 15,342 people between 12 and 20 years old in Eau Claire County, it estimated 1,085 have a serious alcohol problem, and 85 percent do not receive treatment.
The consortium distributed school questionnaires and found 52 percent of local 12th graders reported having five or more glasses of beer, wine or liquor within a few hours, compared to 48 percent nationally. Thirty percent of those 12th graders reported they drove cars after or while drinking alcohol, compared to 27 percent nationally.
Between local eighth and tenth-graders, 28.6 percent reported alcohol use, and 46.2 percent of 12th graders reported use.
Captain Jeff Pettis of the Eau Claire County Sheriff's Department said his department has been aggressive when dealing with underage drinking, but the thing that's the scariest is that it sees parents throwing underage parties.
"How do you control that?" Pettis said. "Parents are becoming more permissive to allow it under their guidance, which is totally illegal, but it makes it much harder for us to enforce."
To combat the underage drinking problem, the department became involved with the consortium, started educating children through the DARE program and strictly enforces events such as Country Jam to make sure underage people can't obtain alcohol.
Senior Chris Nielson said he didn't drink underage, but there is a problem on campus.
"It is an issue that we do have to address, but it's not something everybody's doing," he said. "You can have friends without alcohol. There are lots of things going on on campus, and if there aren't things going on, you can make things happen with friends."
Viewing Comments 1 - 3 of 4
Phankey
Patricia
posted 2/25/08 @ 2:01 PM CST
"Lee said the university's own surveys found 47 percent of students didn't binge drink within the last two weeks, and 23 percent didn't drink at all in the last 30 days. (Continued…)
FGF
posted 2/25/08 @ 6:03 PM CST
Actually, you'd be hard-pressed to find anyone with CASE trying to put a positive spin on the campus drinking situation. If fact, they almost always emphasize the "problem. (Continued…)
Pamela
posted 2/26/08 @ 9:27 AM CST
Yes, underage and binge drinking are both a serious problem. I don't think Ms. Lee is trying to downplay the situation but put a face on the fact that not "everybody" drinks or drinks to intoxication, which is a common perception on most Wisconsin campuses. (Continued…)
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