College students' views of excessive drinking and the university's role

Views of college students (N = 133) regarding excessive drinking were explored in terms of the amount of drinking which constitutes a drinking problem, the behaviors that indicate a student has been drinking excessively, and university alcohol policies that students would endorse. Students accepted levels of drinking by peers that markedly exceed definitions of excessive drinking by experts. A sizable minority of students refuse to label very dangerous behaviors associated with excessive drinking as indicating a drinking problem. The views of male and female students differed only marginally. Since students seem to define excessive drinking in ways that differ from professionals, it is suggested that student affairs personnel need to plan programs that recognize the students' views, otherwise students may continue to believe that while excessive drinking is bad, their level of drinking cannot lead to any problems.