<p>"Binge" is Barrett Seaman's disturbing account of his odyssey through undergraduate life at the start of the 21st century. Seaman arranged to live on the campuses of 12 elite schools, including Harvard, Middlebury, Duke, Stanford, the University of Virginia, and Canada's McGill.</p>
<p>Here's a review:</p>
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[quote]
For example, U.S. colleges devote enormous resources to combating underage drinking -- and in the process may help fuel underground bingeing. In contrast, at McGill, where students can drink at 18, alcohol is consumed in the open. There, far fewer students are sent to the hospital for alcohol poisoning than at Dartmouth or Middlebury, each of which is smaller. Lowering the drinking age might sound radical. But if college students were treated more like adults, maybe they would be less self-destructive.
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</p>
<p>It is not up to colleges to lower the drinking age. But if students are caught drinking by the police, the colleges are liable. Is it any wonder that they try to enforce the rules? For example, last year at the Harvard Yale game, much was made by Yalies that the Harvard authorities were much stricter about alcohol at the Game; but it's partly because the Boston police is less likely than the New Haven police to turn a blind eye on infractions.</p>
<p>Marite,</p>
<p>lol, way to bury the dig;)</p>
<p>Not a dig. I wish the Boston police were not so zealous. But I read the Yale Daily News and the Crimson at the time of the Game as my S was considering where to apply. How much beer would be allowed was a big topic, perhaps THE main topic, of the coverage in these two student papers.</p>
<p>The higher drinking age has (according to all accounts I've ever seen, and I've been professionally reading them for a decade) saved thousands and thousands of lives. The vast majority of American youth do not attend four-year residential institutions populated by folks in the top quintile of American incomes, and I fail to see why politicians should abandon a policy that has saved thousands because college administrations can't figure out how to control their own students - or don't want to. (Pushing the age back to 18 will likely result in fueling more binge drinking among 15 and 16 year olds, who associate with 18 year old high school students - and that was precisely the case before the increase in the drinking age.)</p>
<p>Independent of increased auto accidents, rapes, sexual assaults, etc. associated with more youthful drinking, studies also indicate that more problem drinking at earlier ages results in more health and addiction problems later in life. To me, the comparison between McGill and Middlebury is a virtual red herring - as most youth never get close to the opportunity to attend either.</p>
<p>Well, I don't want to turn this thread into another discussion of bing drinking. I just wanted to point out that some of the concerns the author has regarding the college experience are really about American society, not about college life per se. Mini in fact reinforces this point. The same could be said about hooking. It does not start suddenly in college. </p>
<p>Based on the article, I don't see much value in this book. Just another jeremiad and a nostalgic gloss on the good old days (my college days reeked of pot and unwashed bodies).</p>
<p>Mini has nicely summed up the problem - I, too, would prefer that the drinking age on residential college campuses was lowered, perhaps to 18-19. However, you can't argue with facts, and the fact is that there have been fewer deaths since the drinking age was raised. I do disagree with one point, whatever chilling effect the raised age may have had on 15-16 year olds is rapidly fading, and the binge drinking trend is our area is spreading into high schools and moving from the more affluent high schools (where I think the habit was picked up from sibs at college) to the less affluent kids. What I see in my daughter's age group, are kids that 10 years ago would have had a weekend beer or two, possibly on a regular basis, now drinking to get drunk every other weekend, or never drinking modestly, always to excess. Kids who might have gotten drunk once in their high school careers, not even understanding that you might have fun drinking a little, vs a lot. It is the whole attitude toward alcohol that is poisonous.</p>
<p>I think the europeans are much smarter about the way they treat alcohol consumption. Wine and beer are seen as the equivalent of soft drinks. I think it is the allure of the forbidden fruit which drives students to drink to excess. </p>
<p>Come on, do we really expect the drinking age to be enforced. OF COURSE NOT. As a 18 year old I think it is absolutely stupid that I can be held contractually liable for all of my actions(whereas previously my signature meant nothing on a contract) and be drafted and die in Iraq, yet I still am not legally allowed to buy a glass of wine to have with lunch. THIS IS IDIOTIC!</p>
<p>Maybe we should lower the drinking age to 14. ;)</p>
<p>(Cangel - I think you meant to say fewer deaths since the drinking age was "raised".)</p>
<p>I will probably be assigned to review the book at work. (Takes all the enjoyment out...)</p>
<p>Having lived for six years of my life, three years in the 80s and three years around the turn of the most recent century, in a country where any kid can buy any amount of alcohol legally, I would have to agree that restricting access by age is only a small part of solving the problem. But having read some of the literature--not as much as Mini has--I would also have to say that IN AMERICA, which is the country most of us are talking about, it is a very good idea to restrict access to alcohol by young people as much as possible by legal means. The costs of enforcement seem to be amply repayed by lives saved, cars not wrecked, and addictive patterns of alcohol abuse not started. </p>
<p>It would be wonderful if the general cultural climate in the United States were such that it could be as many countries in east Asia are--a place where anyone can buy alcohol at any age, because users of alcohol mostly use it responsibly. But that's not real-world America, and colleges are CRAZY if they don't take responsibility for the young people in their care in regard to alcohol abuse.</p>
<p>The book's not just about drinking and it is not at all a Jeremiad. It's a pretty comprehensive look at a number of issues: alcohol, drugs, sex, date rape, fraternities, mental health issues, diversity. I think many of us tend to think, "Oh, I went to college, I know all about it." (okay, well at least I did). The premise is that more has changed than we realize and that our kids will face similar but very different problems, many of which arise out of a different world. And the University Administrations are dealing with all those issues in ways colleges did not when we attended. I found it fascinating and useful.</p>
<p>I DO know that college today is not like college 40 years ago. I just have to read the thread on what kind of phone service (cell phone or land line? or cell phone plus land line?) to remember that in my dorm there was only one pay phone per floor and that was it. My roommate came with a turntable (remember those) on which we played 45rpms. The typewriters we used were not were pre-Selectric IBMs, yadda yadda.</p>
<p>The title of the book is Binge. Obviously, the author considers bing drinking a serious issue. So do I. But, as I said earlier, it is not up to colleges to lower the drinking age. And it is good of Tokenadult to remind us that it is a cultural issue (speaking as someone who drank watered wine with meals on special occasions at age 6 onward)..</p>
<p>Sounds like an interesting book, though undoubtedly it will scare some parents who have no need to worry. Every generation has its share of irresponsible and downright dangerous behavior, and I'm not entirely convinced that today's students are worse than their parents' generation.</p>
<p>It does seem possible that college crackdowns have exacerbated the problem. The trend for years in the US has been to try to prevent alcohol abuse by preventing, or at least severely restricting, alcohol use. The Europeans seem to have fewer problems; they are relaxed about moderate alcohol use, but tend to be extremely strict about drunk driving. Their experience would suggest that focusing on the dangerous behavior makes more sense.</p>
<p>I suspect, though, that our litigious society will prevent colleges from returning to their practice of turning a blind eye toward moderate alcohol use.</p>
<p>I've read enough of your other intelligent posts, Marite to wonder about this thread.</p>
<p>The title of Melville's book is called "Moby Dick" but it's not just about a big....whale. Nor is the subject matter of either book as obvious from the title as you seem to think, sight unseen (though maybe you've read "Moby Dick")</p>
<p>Binge has a dictionary definition which lends it to being able to be used in connection with a number of activities. It is probably also useful to sell copies about a subject which , CCers not withstanding, is not one of the most engaging to most of the populace.</p>
<p>I'm surprised you would limit its scope ~ unread ~ to one topic or assume that he considers drinking a new major problem. The subject is certainly discussed, along with others. He points out that there are differences in the way students drink today on college, partly due to the change in drinking age and contrasts it with what is lost from a prior era or at McGill with it's 18yr old drinking age. The author also points out that some of the draconian responses by schools to deal with it are, to say the least counterproductive. </p>
<p>Many other topics frequently found in CC, like diversity and LGBT issues are also discussed as well as the others I mentioned in my prior post. </p>
<p>I have no axe to grind with you or interest in sales of the book, but I really think that you (with 2800 some odd postings here) would find it interesting and eye openning.</p>
<p>As I mentioned, I based my posts on the review rather than the book. And the review suggested a remedy for binge drinking that a. is not in the purview of colleges and b. is not necessarily the best way to deal with the problem of bing drinking.
No doubt there is more to the book than the review made it appear. I'm glad that you found it eye-opening.</p>
<p>Mhc, was you post directed at Marite REALLY justified? </p>
<p>While one should not judge a book by its cover, it is fair to assume that great care was given to finding a "perfect" title. As you said, the word binge may take different meanings, but its association with drinking or abuse is unmistakable. The author could have chose something such as "Out of control" or "Wild and loose", yet he and his editors picked BINGE. No matter how unsophisticated it may be to pick a book based on first impressions, we can rely on a title to set the tone for what is in the book.</p>
<p>The president of Princeton came out against the current drinking age. "The drinking age being 21 is one of the biggest problems with promoting responsible drinking on campus." <a href="http://www.dailyprincetonian.com/archives/2005/04/04/news/12535.shtml%5B/url%5D">http://www.dailyprincetonian.com/archives/2005/04/04/news/12535.shtml</a></p>
<p>She was definitely not alone: <a href="http://www2.potsdam.edu/hansondj/YouthIssues/1098889035.html%5B/url%5D">http://www2.potsdam.edu/hansondj/YouthIssues/1098889035.html</a></p>
<p>Mini, I have read many reports stating that binge drinking is up since the lowered drinking age: </p>
<p>"The decrease in drinking and driving problems are the result of many factors and not just the rise in purchase age or the decreased per capita consumption. These include: education concerning drunk driving, designated driver programs, increased seat belt and air bag usage, safer automobiles, lower speed limits, free taxi services from drinking establishments, etc. </p>
<p>"While there has been a decrease in per capita consumption and motor vehicle crashes, unfortunately, during this same time period there has been an INCREASE in other problems related to heavy and irresponsible drinking among college age youth. Most of these reported behaviors showed little change until AFTER the 21 year old law in 1987. For example from 1982 until 1987 about 46% of students reported 'vomiting after drinking.' This jumped to over 50% after the law change. Significant increase were also found for other variables: 'cutting class after drinking' jumped from 9% to almost 12%; "missing class because of hangover" went from 26% to 28%; 'getting lower grade because of drinking' rose from 5% to 7%; and 'been in a fight after drinking' increased from 12% to 17%. All of these behaviors are indices of irresponsible drinking. This increase in abusive drinking behavior is due to 'underground drinking' outside of adult supervision in student rooms and apartments were same age individuals congregate and because of lack of knowledge of responsible drinking behaviors." (This is an excerpt from the Indiana University professor's article, linked above)</p>
<p>Well, continuing my effort to contribute international perspective here, maybe United States college students at supposedly "elite" undergraduate colleges think they can get away with a lot of drinking while students because they are underchallenged academically. In a lot of parts of the world, students drink, yes, but they don't get drunk so often because they enjoy keeping their brain cells to engage in the academic challenge of their courses. </p>
<p>Has anyone done an academic study of whether there are different rates of alcohol abuse among different major subjects at the same university? Or a study on how rates of alcohol abuse vary among students who are at different levels of academic success (dean's list versus academic probation)? That would tie in to the point the author of the book under review makes about lax academic standards as compared to twenty years ago at the same school.</p>
<p>Tokenadult, there are quite a few posters on this thread who contribute an international perspective, either by actually being from other countries or having experience living overseas. There certainly is a great deal of evidence that heavy drinking correlates with low academic achievement, but I'm sure I don't need to tell you that that doesn't prove causation. At several top schools we visited, the "work hard, play hard" philosophy was repeated to us by student guides again and again. </p>
<p>My own d studied in Europe this summer and found that in the less-than-stellar university she was attending, there was much less drinking than at her own very challenging Ivy. The answer didn't seem to relate to academic challenge.</p>
<p>I have a different hunch. In many of the European countries I know, students do not necessarily go far away to school at the age of 18. Many live at home and commute, or go to school close to home and return frequently. And long ago drinking has been established as part of eating a meal with the family. Sometimes I have the sense that the desire to blot out reality with alcohol relates to loneliness, fear, and grief.</p>
<p>From what I understand, the main reason the drinking age is 21 is that in the states that have experimented with lowering the drinking age, Illinois for example, the rate of serious car accidents for the age group increased. As a result, the age was increased to 21 again. One solution that I support, lower the drinking age, and raise the driving age to 25!</p>