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Volume 38 Issue 10
February 27, 2001

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Dropping bad habits
Drinking, smoking use down, U.S. survey says

BY TAMMY JARVIS
MESA LEGEND
Submitted February 27, 2001

Jordan Currier/MESA LEGEND

MCC student Kellie Weber lights up between classes, despite a recent survey that says cigarette smoking is down among college age students.

Cigarette use and beer drinking among college freshman has decreased, according to results of a survey released Jan.22 by the University of California and the American Council on Education.

269,413 college freshman from 434 U.S. colleges and universities participated in the study.

The results of the survey indicate that 10 percent of college freshman smoke. This represents a slow but steady decline from the same survey released in 1999 in which 10.7 percent said that they smoked.

There was also a drop in the number of college freshman who drink beer.

According to the 2000 survey, 48.3 percent said that they do, frequently or occasionally, drink beer.

That number is down .6 percent from 1999.

The 2000 survey shows an even larger decrease from the 1982 survey, where 73.7 percent said that they, frequently or occasionally, drank beer.

"While these numbers seem like a small percentage of decrease, they have been decreasing steadily for years and that’s what makes these findings significant," said Dr. Christa Adams, MCC Counseling Department Faculty member.

Adams believes publishing the yearly survey findings may be a contributing factor in the decrease.

"To learn and report that data is very empowering," Adams said.

"Once that information is printed, it shows students that most people don’t smoke and drink and that information helps to decrease usage."

Adams also believes students are contributing more in society and doing positive things with their lives, which also contributes to the decline.

While beer and cigarette usage are on the decline, the survey also concludes that the consumption of wine and liquor rose slightly.

The 1999 survey found that 53.2 percent drink wine or liquor and in 2000 53.9 percent said they consume the beverages.

Adams attributes the increase to the recent media reports that red wine is beneficial to the body.

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