While alcohol-related arrests and violations greatly increased from 2008 to 2009, the amount of drinking has steadily decreased over the last seven years, said Karen Moses, director of ASU Wellness and Health Promotion.
The ASU Police Department registered 275 more alcohol arrests and reported 415 more liquor-law violations in 2008 than in 2007, but according to the American College Health Association – National College Health Assessment, the drinking rates at ASU have been lower than the national rate for college students over the past several years.
The department credits the increase in arrests to greater enforcement and an increase of students.
“Obviously with more students you are going to have more of everything,” ASU Police Cmdr. Jim Hardina said.
Deborah Sullivan, director of student life, said the increase could be attributed to the University’s larger student body and greater enforcement from the police department and the Office of Student Rights and Responsibilities.
Sixty percent of ASU students overestimate the number of drinks typically consumed by other ASU students, according to the National College Health Assessment.
Both Hardina and Sullivan said the police department and the Office of Student Rights and Responsibilities have a strong working relationship.
“Any time that we see an increase in any type of inappropriate behavior or any type of concerning trend in behavior that impacts student and campus safety, efforts are focused on addressing those concerns and issues,” Sullivan said.
A larger focus is put toward alcohol enforcement due to its association with many other crimes, Sullivan and Hardina said.
“Alcohol plays a role in many campus crimes, from students being arrested for possessing or using alcohol to students being involved in physical and/or sexual assaults,” Sullivan said.
According to the American College Health Association – National College Health Assessment, 71 percent of ASU students that were surveyed either drink in moderation or don’t drink at all.
The national average for students who choose not to drink either most or all of the time is 27.6 percent, according to the assessment.
Since 2002, the percentage of ASU students that consume alcohol on a monthly basis has decreased by more than 5 percent, according to the assessment.
The assessment reported that while most ASU students practice safe drinking, 29 percent engage in “high risk” drinking behavior.
It said high-risk drinking often results in consequences for not only the drinker but peers and the wider ASU community as well.
When a student is arrested for an alcohol violation, that student is also found in violation of the Student Code of Conduct, Sullivan said.
There were 1,481 alcohol violations on the Tempe campus in 2008, according to the ASU crime report.
“Each case is decided — and sanctioning imposed — based on the facts of the case,” Sullivan said.
On a first violation, a student generally takes an online-educational class about alcohol abuse, she said.
Another class the University uses is called “Turn It Around,” and can be implemented after a second offense or even a serious first offense.
“The class is geared to assist the students in making better, healthier decisions,” Sullivan said.
Any sanctions imposed on students are educational in nature, she said.
“They are in place to help the student to be a successful part of the ASU community,” she said.
Reach the reporter at nathan.meacham@asu.edu.
