A Matter of Degree

A Matter of Degree is an environmental intervention program implemented at colleges with high binge drinking rates. Participating colleges develop a college-community coalition of stakeholders and use this forum to assess local issues and develop interventions. The program addresses the following features of the environment that influence the use and misuse of alcohol: social and cultural beliefs and behaviors about alcohol; marketing and advertising of alcohol; alcohol availability; access to alcohol; and college, local and state policies and practices regarding alcohol. Intervention activities include keg registration, server training, over-service enforcement, substance-free residence halls, restrictive policies for Greek students, wild party enforcement, bans on alcohol ads in school newspapers, bans on alcohol-related items in school stores, and a parental notification policy.

The goal of the A Matter of Degree program is to reduce student drinking and driving after drinking.

The program was evaluated using a quasi-experimental longitudinal study design comparing 10 colleges participating in the program with students at 32 similar colleges. There were significant reductions in driving after drinking, driving after five or more drinks, and riding with a high or drunk driver at the program colleges when compared to the comparison colleges.