UNDERAGE, COLLEGE DRINKING POSES FEW PROBLEMS FOR POLICE

While a recently released survey indicated that a large percentage of Southeast Missouri State University students binge drink, police say it doesn't appear that college students aren't disproportionately arrested for alcohol-related offenses.

Sgt. Carl Kinnison, public information officer for the Cape Girardeau Police Department, said that officers don't ask if someone is a college student unless an arrest is made. However, he said Southeast students do not stand out as a problem group.

A survey of 590 Southeast students conducted in the spring of 1996 showed that 46 percent of students polled admitted binge drinking -- consuming five or more alcoholic beverages in a single sitting -- in the two weeks prior to participating the survey. The national average is 39 percent. Seventy percent said they had consumed alcohol in the previous 30 days and 86 percent said they had had a drink within the last year.

Also, 41 percent of students surveyed said they had driven while intoxicated.

Kinnison said arrests of college-age and high school-age drivers for driving while intoxicated are few.

"We do not arrest many people for DWI who are underage," Kinnison said. "The most group we most frequently see for DWI are between the ages of 24 to 35."

For drivers of all ages, alcohol-related traffic fatalities in Cape Girardeau are low. Only one of seven traffic deaths in Cape Girardeau in the last three years involved alcohol. Kinnison said that statistic is well below the national average, which attribute between 40 and 45 percent of traffic fatalities to alcohol.

"Our average used to be pretty much consistent with the national average," he said.

There have been only 59 arrests for minors in possession of alcohol so far this year. Kinnison said that in years past the figure has topped the 200 mark.

However, Kinnison said it is difficult for the department to get a true view of the extent of drinking by college and high school students based solely on arrest statistics.

"Unfortunately arrest statistics do not always reflect what is actually going on. ... But based on what we know, we do not have any more serious a problem than other communities, and it may even be less serious," Kinnison said.

However, he believes the massive educational campaigns on the dangers of alcohol use that have been undertaken in recent years are paying off. Educators, parents, law enforcement and groups such as Mothers Against Drunk Driving and Students Against Drunk Driving are taking a more active role to stem abuse, he said.

"There are so many different movements and a tremendous effort to raise awareness," Kinnison said. "I really believe that is why you are seeing a decrease nationally and even more of a decrease locally."

A survey on the drinking and drug use habits of high school and junior high students will be conducted in the Cape Girardeau School District next month. All eighth- and 12th-grade students will be asked to participate in the anonymous study.

Dolly Jewell, the alcohol and substance abuse prevention coordinator for the district, said the purpose of the survey is to determine the extent of alcohol and substance abuse among students. If students are honest with their answers, she believes the study can provide vital information for school officials.

Although Jewell said alcohol and substance abuse among students "is very much a presence" in Cape Girardeau, she said until the survey results are known it is hard to say exactly how big the problem is.

"I know alcohol usage has not gone down," Jewell said. "According to one statistic, at least five percent of high school juniors are already alcoholics, meaning they drink everyday and depend on it. That is scary."

Jewell said alcohol and substance education efforts are important and effective, but the final decisions lie with the students.

"They have the information; how they use it is their choice," she said.