1. Francie Mantak, Director of Health Education at Health Services

2. Perception Gap
Students overestimate the quantity and frequency of alcohol consumption of those around them.
Compared to their personal attitudes, students consistently estimate that typical students are more comfortable with and more approving of alcohol use.

3. Perception Gap
How many drinks, on average, do you think most Brown students consume in a typical week?
Flaw in skip pattern discovered on secondary analysis - perception of drinking rates is unfortnately reflective only of students who reported drinking “more than a few sips over the past year” - therefore it does not take into account non-drinkers (n=44; 15% of sample) - however, it does not affect the actual norms which is the crux of social norms marketing campaigns.
Quite a gap in Drinks per week - with the perception being 6, but actual drinks being 2. A smaller gap in drinks per occaision with perceived drinks being 4, compared to the actual 3. While this may seem small, research has shown that overestimating the campus norm by one drink predicts almost a half drink (0.48) increase in personal alcohol consumption.
Medians were chosen as an indicator of the norm because they are a more accurate representation of central tendency in comparison to means, which are subject to bias due to extreme responses. Although extreme responses were corrected during data preparation, medians provide an unaltered version of student behavior.
No question about perceived length of drinking time for others; Unable to calculate perceived BAC. But the average BAC for respondents was .04.

4. Race/Ethnicity
rpls rock!
How many drinks, on average, do you think most Brown students consume in a typical week?

5. How does this gap get created?
Interactive, jump in with questions at any time

6. The Perception Gap
Interactive, jump in with questions at any time

7. The Perception Gap
The alcohol industry spent approximately $6 billion on advertising and promotion in 2005
Youth were 96 times more likely to see an ad promoting alcohol than an industry ad discouraging underage drinking.
Interactive, jump in with questions at any time

8. The Perception Gap
This image is the first to come up when you google images of Animal House

9. rpls rock!
The Perception Gap
Drinking stories, jokes from parents, alums, staff, faculty

10. rpls rock!
The Perception Gap
Drinking stories, jokes from parents, alums, staff, faculty
Noise, vandalism that happen with alcohol

11. The Perception Gap
Drinking stories, jokes from parents, alums, staff faculty
Noise, vandalism that happen with alcohol
Drinking stories the next day

12. rpls rock!
The Perception Gap
Drinking stories, jokes from parents, alums, staff, faculty
Noise, vandalism that happen with alcohol
Drinking stories the next day
This image is the first to come up when you google images of Animal House

13. The Perception Gap
Drinking stories, jokes from parents, alums, staff, faculty
Noise, vandalism that happen with alcohol
Drinking stories the next day
This image is the first to come up when you google images of Animal House

14. Non-drinkers
1 out of 5 Brown students don’t drink
1 out of 4 Brown first-years don’t drink
“I had to take medication my freshman year and the doctor told me I couldn’t drink. It was such a relief to have an ‘official’ reason not to drink.”
-----Brown student
How many of you know someone who doesn’t drink?

15. Growing up with an alcoholic
rpls rock!
Growing up with an alcoholic
1 in 4 college students grew up with an alcoholic or substance abusing parent.
People unlikely to talk about this experience….

16. rpls rock!
Alcohol-Free Options
Late Night Fund for alcohol-free events: $40,000 yearly budget
Nelson Fitness Center: Monday through Friday 5:30am – midnight, Saturday & Sunday 7:00am - 9:00pm
Food and nonalcoholic beverages are required at registered social events
People unlikely to talk about this experience….

17. Normative environment
rpls rock!
Normative environment
Friday classes are consistently part of Brown’s class schedule
Sub-free residence options
Correct student misperceptions of drinking norms

18. rpls rock!
Alcohol Availability
Kegs are prohibited on campus. Open containers are prohibited in Providence and on campus.
Party managers’ training
Law requires keg registration
Proposed student bartender service
People unlikely to talk about this experience….

19. rpls rock!
Alcohol Availability
College Hill and one other neighborhood in Providence have the highest density of alcohol outlets in the city.
Increasing state alcohol tax – a very challenging thing to do

20. Marketing and Promotion of Alcohol
rpls rock!
Marketing and Promotion of Alcohol
On campus
Alcohol advertising and event sponsorship are prohibited on campus
Advertisement of social functions cannot promote drunkenness

21. Marketing and Promotion of Alcohol
rpls rock!
Marketing and Promotion of Alcohol
Off campus Address alcohol promotions that show drinking in high-risk contexts

22. Policy Development and Enforcement
rpls rock!
Policy Development and Enforcement
On campus
Revised campus alcohol and other drug (AOD) policy
Events are registered and monitored by staff and security

23. Policy Development and Enforcement
rpls rock!
Policy Development and Enforcement
Off campus
Increase ID checks at off-campus bars and liquor stores
Enforce seller penalties for sale of liquor to minors
Enforce law against buying alcohol for minors
Enforce penalties for possessing fake ID
Use decoy operations at retail alcohol outlets

24. rpls rock!
Overarching Issues
Enforcement in general is lacking Cultural ambivalence about underage drinking Universities reluctant to engage in legislative advocacy Comparisons with tobacco
DUI here

25. rpls rock!
Overarching Issues
Very little emphasis on primary prevention Public health doesn’t tell a good story