<p>Some current students have complained that there is too lax an attitude towards alcohol. What do others think? Are there things to do if one is not into the drinking scene?</p>
<p>I haven't exactly heard anyone "complain" that there is too lax an attitude towards alcohol here - The policies I know of actually foster responsible drinking and make students not think twice before calling EST (the on campus emergency squad) to report any health problems related to such. There are many things to do if someone isn't into the drinking scene, and you don't even have to be in a substance-free dorm to have fun without drinking. Other schools I know of with "stricter" alcohol policies pretty much drink the same, if not more, but are not doing it in a manner where someone would see if there's a problem.</p>
<p>You mention substance free dorms. Can you elaborate?</p>
<p>there are sub free dorms and floors available as housing options. they can be requested when filling out dorm preference forms after acceptance. plus there is so much going on all the time that one doesn't necessarily need to go to the row or out to parties for a good time.
the general idea behind the policy is that the university treats you like an adult who can make responsible choices until you give them a reason not to. there most definetly is an alcohol policy, but it generally promotes safety and awareness.</p>
<p>someone told me that underage students are told that it is allowed to drink in their rooms as long as they keep their doors open. is this true? if it is, how is this legal?</p>
<p>mabo - It's really some shaky legal grounds, but the big part is that you won't get in trouble from RAs. If you're causing issues, you WILL get in trouble with the cops. RAs are not law enforcement officers, anyway.</p>
<p>According to Wikipedia's entry on Missouri's drinking laws, "Additionally, although Missouri prohibits minors from possessing or purchasing alcohol, it is one of nineteen states (and the District of Columbia) which have no specific law prohibiting the consumption of alcohol by minors.". Sure, one really doesn't go without the other, but you clearly see the lax state law. There's also this part: "In 2005, though, the Missouri General Assembly amended the liquor control law to prohibit any minor from having a blood alcohol level higher than .02%". That would seem to infer that drinking at levels where your BAC is under 0.02%, is LEGAL underage. Keep in mind that there is NO federal drinking age law requiring people to be 21 years old to drink.</p>
<p>Another interesting fact (though off-topic) is that there is "no statewide criminal prohibition on public intoxication, as well as a provision forbidding local jurisdictions from enacting criminal public intoxication laws"</p>
<p>Students will drink no matter what their college's rules are, so at least Wash U realizes this. The openness of the drinking culture is extremely beneficial, in fact. RAs can make sure students are being responsible with alcohol, as opposed to students going off-campus to drink without any sort of "loose supervision" if alcohol were banned from campus. Also, it helps so that if someone does overdo it, nobody hesitates calling the cops/EMTs, as other people who have been drinking (and are getting help for a friend) won't get in trouble for it.</p>
<p>Couple of other points - all freshman are required to complete an alcohol education course on the web. I think it took my son a couple of hours to complete. Also his dorm bulletin board contains several articles on alcohol abuse and even the effects of caffeine. My impression is its a good atmosphere in that regard. My kid does not drink (for some reason (could be sports) of his own volition), he's not in a substance free dorm, and he doesn't feel any pressure to drink.</p>
<p>I don’t drink, most of my friends don’t drink alcohol either, but frat parties are alcohol parties, although you wont’ be pressured to drink (I always take with me my Dasani)</p>
<p>"Some current students have complained that there is too lax an attitude towards alcohol."</p>
<p>Who would complain about that? That strikes me as odd...</p>
<p>You might be surprised ;) A friend of mine has a roommate who goes to bed before 10 PM even on Saturdays nights, so imagine...:eek:</p>