A recent study among students in Ohio (U.S.) shows that a considerable number of students stop their excessive alcohol consumption, reduce their drinking or have the good sense to do so before graduating.

No less than 60% of the students were categorized as episodic heavy drinkers (more than 5 drinks per day for men, more than 4 for women). 9% of them stopped before graduating, 14% stopped at least provisionally and a further 12% considered stopping heavy drinking. According to the researchers, it is important to know why students stop heavy drinking before graduating. This is expected to help to contain alcohol abuse on the campus.

The researchers could not explain why some students stopped while others did not. The students did not have different views about the scale of the problem of drink on the campus. The authors therefore stress that campaigns on social norms are not an effective way of influencing the process of stopping drinking. They suggest instead directing effort to students who never consider reducing their alcohol consumption. The message should dwell on the greater risks facing heavy drinkers, and on the harmful effects of alcohol abuse. Students who had thought about reducing their alcohol were more aware of the risks and the negative consequences of excessive alcohol consumption. The researchers insist that it is not enough to rely on traditional deterent techniques to raise awareness. They must offer precise, believable information and give specific pointers for behaviour. The researchers also advocated short talks on motivation that could help the students to control their drinking and form a correct appraisal of the risks.

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