‘The Stupid Drink’
June 27, 2009 by Geneva ReidPosted in: In this week's e-newsletter, Latest News & Views, Student Life
The problem on college campuses isn’t drinking – it’s drinking too much, students say. And they’d like to learn to drink responsibly, so they don’t wind up doing something stupid.
Students at Syracuse University’s S.I. Newhouse School of Public Communications decided to use this idea of “The Stupid Drink” – you know, the one that crosses the line between being in (or out of) control.
They submitted the slogan to the American Advertising Federation and won the national student ad competition.
The result: A $10 million public service campaign, sponsored by the Century Council, a trade group in the liquor industry.
Using a Web site – that includes TV spots – the focus of the campaign is to teach students to recognize that one drink that crosses the line.
Considering the rise in binge drinking — and alcohol-related deaths — among college students, is this campaign going far enough to solve the problem? (To see the full story on the latest stats, click here.)
Let us know what you think in the comments section below.
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Tags: American Advertising Federation, S.I. Newhouse School of Public Communications, Syracuse University
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July 1st, 2009 at 10:42 am
Looks like a great campaign slogan. I totally agree with guiding higher ed students in becoming responsible consumers. As health services, I’m fully aware of the public health and legal concerns regarding underaged drinking. But my efforts focus on supporting student life’s mission in the development of life skills. College is a time of transition into adult society. Preparation for such should begin from day one.
July 1st, 2009 at 12:19 pm
Is there necessarily one drink that crosses the line? It seems to me that alcohol begins impairing judgment from the first drink. I think the program is well-intentioned, but I don’t know that its underlying premise–namely, that students can drink right up to the “stupid line”–will lead to safer campuses.
July 1st, 2009 at 1:48 pm
I think this is a fabulous idea! The excess that goes on in college is because young people have no idea about how to drink socially since they have been “denied” (legally anyway) till 21 and they are on their own. Just like learning to drive, and other adult ventures, learning to drink socially should be taught so that our young people don’t end up dying.
July 1st, 2009 at 2:54 pm
Have college students gotten incredibly stupid of late or what??? A class to teach social drinking!!! Oh, please! For generations, kids growing up have seen and been told of the results of over indulging. Could it be that this generation, who see themselves as centers of the universe, think that they are immune to acting like asses if they should drink too much? It used to only take ONE bad hangover to learn that difficult lesson that NO ONE is immune to over indulging and the results it brings. With the amount of binge drinking taking place on campuses across the nation today it makes you wonder if some of our dear young adults are learning impaired.
July 2nd, 2009 at 4:18 pm
I, too, like the concept…sort of. Sadly, there simply is not ‘that one drink’ that sends you over the line. More likely, it’s the last four or five. College drinking will be debated endlessly, to little advantage. College kids are going to drink. It’s as simple as that. I’m leaning more and more toward lowering the drinking age so students can once again drink legally in bars. In such a setting, they really may learn to drink a little more ‘socially’ (and even enjoy it) rather than throwing’em back until they get stupid and puke.
July 23rd, 2009 at 5:37 pm
I drank too much in my undergrad years and I’ve got a PhD now. College students are no less intelligent now than before. They have been smothered by over-protective, high-pressure, “helicopter” parents and when they get to college…well you see what happens. Talk to your kids about drinking and you may have less of a problem. If you restrict them and put alcohol ‘out of reach’ while giving them everything else they ask for… guess what they are going to want when they get to college? I’m not saying get your teen drunk. Just demystify it. If the kid(s) are smart enough to go to college then they will understand if you have a frank conversation with them.
March 13th, 2010 at 2:05 am
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