Our Views

The University of Wisconsin has a new strategy to curb alcohol abuse among students - calling the parents. If the kids are underage, they can also be given a summons and, no matter how old they are, can be sent to alcohol detox.

Some think of this approach as a throwback, out of touch with the modern world. Nevertheless, it seems to be working: Second offenses have markedly decreased and not one of the students involved has dropped out of school.

The University of Wisconsin has a history of tolerance when it comes to drinking: the snack bar used to serve beer, and campus buses were equipped with kegs. But, over the years, things changed. Drinking became antisocial instead of social. In fact, according to the University’s chancellor, “just about every unpleasant incident, every crime, involves alcohol abuse by the victim or the perpetrator.” This includes everything from theft to rape.

The Chancellor also said that alcohol abuse is the number one health and safety problem on every college campus.

Statistics show that kids whose parents talk to them about the dangers of drug and alcohol abuse are 50 percent less likely to succumb to the temptation. That’s the kind of grass roots movement we need. If combined with alcohol detox for those who already have a problem, getting parents involved could eventually reduce the incidence of alcohol abuse significantly.

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