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Alcohol and Community

It is essential that the University of Wisconsin Eau Claire and the surrounding community work together to address underage and high risk drinking.

Background information
The Bridge Campus Community Coalition on Alcohol Issues in Eau Claire
Other Community Partners

Background information

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High risk drinking doesn’t necessarily begin in college. One of the strongest predictors of drinking problems in college is frequency of binge drinking in high school. Binge drinking rates in college are directly correlated with rates of adult binge drinking in the community. Click here for more information about youth drinking.

The Harvard School of Public Health and U.S. Centers for Disease Control reported in February 2005 that Wisconsin has the highest adult binge-drinking rate in the nation with 26.3 percent of adults admitting to binge drinking. Michigan was second at 18.5 percent. Wisconsin and other states with high rates of binge drinking are producing college students who are accustomed to heavy drinking.

Colleges and the communities in which they are located have an obligation to protect students and non-students alike from the risks posed by college students who drink to excess. For instance, a greater percentage of college students, compared to 18-to-24-year-olds not in college, binge drink and drive under the influence of alcohol. Half of the traffic deaths involving drinking drivers aged 18-to-24 are persons other than the drinking driver.

Another reason for working with the community is the sheer number of 18-to-24-year-olds not in college. They outnumber college students by 2:1 and account for more binge drinking occasions, incidents of driving under the influence of alcohol, and alcohol-related injury deaths than college students. Overall, among 18-to-24-year-olds, over 5,000 die annually from alcohol-related unintentional injuries.

Efforts to change college and youth drinking must strive to change the culture of drinking that affects all youth.

The Bridge Campus Community Coaltion on Alcohol Issues in Eau Claire

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Overview

The University of Wisconsin System administration recognizes the importance of alcohol and other drug abuse (AODA) issues. The objectives of Goal 1 of the UW System AODA Strategic Plan:

  • The Office of the Chancellor assumes leadership of a campus AODA coalition that includes representation from all campus governance groups and constituencies.
  • The AODA coalition solicits city and county involvement.
  • The AODA coalition promotes the visibility of AODA issues and initiatives.

The AODA Coordinator on each campus is responsible for assisting the Chancellor in organizing and maintaining the campus-community coalition.

To meet the objectives mandated by the UW System administration, the Bridge Coalition was formed in November 2005. Previous efforts are acknowledged as contributing to the development of the Center for Alcohol Studies and Education, which now provides ongoing administrative support for the coalition.

Mission Statement

PURPOSE:

Partnership between the UW-Eau Claire campus and Eau Claire community to address and reduce high risk drinking behaviors through education, enforcement and environmental changes.

STRATEGIES:

  • Create a campus culture that encourages responsible alcohol use through policies, programs and education; create and enforce a consistent message of responsible drinking throughout the community.
  • Raise awareness about the negative personal, academic and social consequences that result from drinking excessively; provide moderation skills training.
  • Challenge the cultural acceptance of high-risk practices and reduce incidence of alcohol poisoning.
  • Evaluate and educate people about existing prevention programs on campus and in the community.
  • Enhance the effectiveness of policies, sanctions and consequences (on and off campus).
  • Generate a sense of mutual respect and community within campus area neighborhoods.
  • Be proactive in addressing environmental concerns that pose risks/hazards (i.e., river/bridge).
  • Recognize positive aspects of various stake holders and their ability to assertively influence alcohol misuse and abuse.
  • Strengthen campus and community resources to provide treatment interventions.
  • Provide opportunities to share information and resources.

VALUES:

  • Commitment to finding solutions, taking action and making positive changes.
  • Cooperation and collaboration using a variety of approaches including risk/harm reduction.
  • Personal responsibility and lawful behavior.
  • Mutual respect for persons and property; sense of community.
  • Empathy and caring for one another; understanding and acceptance of the differing needs and concerns of diverse stakeholders.
  • Healthy behaviors and lifestyles.
  • Input and involvement of students.
  • Focus on positive attributes and contributions of all stakeholders.

Working Groups

Working groups based on the Marin Institute Roadmap for Environmental Change are in the process of being formed.

Resource and reference materials

History of coalition efforts at UW-Eau Claire

The Bridge Coalition was preceded by previous efforts spearheaded by Chancellor Donald Mash and others, and demonstrates the university’s long-standing commitment to reduce high-risk drinking among its students.

  • Alcohol Education Advisory Committee 1996-1998
  • Alcohol Task Force 1999-2000
  • Alcohol Education Committee 2003-2005

Other Community Partners

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One of our strongest partners in the community is the Consortium for Substance Abuse Prevention in Eau Claire County through the Eau Claire City-County Health Department. The Consortium for Substance Abuse Prevention in Eau Claire County is a coalition of community agency representatives, healthcare professionals, educators, businesses, public officials and concerned citizens. It is committed to the prevention and reduction of alcohol and other drug abuse while improving the lives of youth and familes. It sponsors the Reality Check 21 program which conducts compliance checks with local businesses to ensure that alcohol is not being sold to underage drinkers.

UW-Eau Claire has partnered with the community as a co-sponsor or organizer of several important events including the 2005 Community Forum on Underage Drinking, a series of campus and community meetings on Building Coaltions to Address High Risk Drinking and the 2006 National Town Hall Meeting. The community also works with the university on special events like National Alcohol Screening Day and National Collegiate Alcohol Awareness Week.

 

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