Univ. Nebraska Cut Binge Drinking By 20%, Univ. of Iowa Learns How

By Jami Brinton, Reporter

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By Becky Ogann

Story Created: May 20, 2010 at 4:57 PM CST

Story Updated: May 20, 2010 at 4:57 PM CST

IOWA CITY - Student binge drinking is a problem the University of Iowa is desperately trying to stop, and it is getting tips from the University of Nebraska. That campus battled binge drinking and won. Representatives from both universities met Thursday in Iowa City.

Figuring out what will curb binge drinking isn't easy. But, instead of starting from scratch, UI leaders are taking notes on the University of Nebraska Lincoln's successful strategy.

From supporting new city laws that limit access to alcohol to cracking down on students caught violating drinking laws, it's clear university leaders want change.

What the UI hadn't done before Thursday is meet with a school who is successfully reducing binge drinking, on campus and in the community. That's why UI brought in representatives from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln to teach the UI what can work.

A key component of UNL's curb binge drinking course 101 includes making sure everyone who has an interest in the issue is heard.

"We met with students, faculty, the athletic department, downtown association, bar owners," said Dr. Victoria Sharp.

UNL says the entire community got involved. Police started a wild party patrol. Local bars tightened entry requirements. The city council looked at liquor license violations.

Next, UNL says progress requires persistence.

"We had more frequent binge drinkers than we had abstainers and low-risk drinkers. It took five years to flip those numbers," said Linda Major, UNL Assistant Vice Chancellor.

Even if fewer UI students stop binging, UNL says this social problem requires on-going monitoring.

While this strategy has worked well for UNL, it might not work here.

"It's not a cookie cutter model. You just can't pick up what we did at UNL and plop it down in Iowa City and at the University of Iowa and hope it's going to work. It's really a lengthy process."

Since UNL implemented its strategy about ten years ago, they've cut binge drinking by about 20 percent. It has also seen a 75% reduction in repeat neighborhood house party offenders

The University of Iowa says it's hopeful its rates will change, too, but don't expect them to drop overnight.

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