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College Tricks: How Do Fraternity Brothers Obtain Alcohol?
Dec, 27 2017
Anti-drinking techniques that work for other college students fall flat when it comes to Greek life. Additionally, fraternity brothers easily obtain alcohol even when they are underage. Alcohol abuse by fraternities is a growing problem across campuses nationwide, with 33 documented deaths caused by hazing in the past ten years.
Where Do Fraternity Brothers Obtain Alcohol?
You must be 21 years of age in the United States to purchase alcohol. However, some people enter college at 17 or 18 years old. Even though laws are in place to prevent underage drinking, fraternity brothers continue to be able to obtain alcohol. What are some of the ways they do this?
- A big brother buys alcohol for his little fraternity brother.
- A rush party happens, with alcohol purchased by the Executive Board.
- Alumni furnish alcohol for a tailgate party.
Who Is to Blame If Someone Underage Gets Caught With Alcohol?
When the police catch an underage person with alcohol, they charged with various crimes. Also, the police will want to know who got the alcohol for them. Crimes committed by the underage drinker become the responsibility of the person who provided the alcohol. Underage drinking also puts the fraternity at risk of suspension or being shut down entirely.
What Are Some of the Charges Associated With Underage Drinking?
There are several charges involved when it comes to underage drinking. The severity of the charges depends on what state you are in and individual circumstances. Here are some things you can be charged with when busted in the State of Rhode Island.
Transportation of Alcoholic Beverages by Underage Persons
- The first offense charge is “transportation of alcoholic beverages by underage persons.” This offense carries a fine of $250, and a 30-day drivers license suspension.
- The second offense carries a fine of $500, and a 90-day drivers license suspension.
- For the third offense of drinking underage, there is a $950 fine and a license suspension of one year.
Possession of Alcohol by an Underage Person
- The first offense is a $750 fine, 60-day drivers license suspension, and 30 hours community service.
- The second offense gets you a $750 fine, 60-day drivers license suspension, 30 hours community service, as well as court-mandated alcohol counseling.
- A third offense could bring you a $950 fine, 60-day drivers license suspension, 30 hours community service, and possible substance abuse counseling.
Driving Under The Influence, DUI, DWI
No matter what your age, if you are operating a vehicle while under the influence of alcohol, you will get a DUI. A blood alcohol level of 0.08% means you are drunk in Rhode Island. There is less tolerance for minors, who are considered too drunk to drive with a blood alcohol level of just 0.02%.
What Makes Fraternity Brothers Immune to Alcohol Intervention?
A Brown University study has plenty of proof that fraternity brothers are not affected by alcohol intervention. Researcher Lori Scott-Sheldon collected data from more than 6,000 fraternities and sororities. She obtained her information from 15 different studies gathered for over 25 years.
Researchers discovered there were no differences in fraternity brothers and sorority sisters who had undergone intervention, and those that had not. Some participants drank even more after treatment. Scott-Sheldon concluded that different methods are appropriate for fraternity brothers as opposed to the rest of the college population.
What Are Some Conventional Methods of Alcohol Intervention?
There are methods of alcohol intervention and treatment that work for most college students. However, conventional methods may not work for fraternity brothers. You can use some of these techniques for alcohol intervention. They are options that are effective for many people.
Education About Alcohol
The first step is education. Alcohol education includes learning the facts about alcohol poisoning. It will also uncover alcohol myths, and educate students about blood alcohol content. Training can also include alcohol counseling.
Personal Feedback on Alcohol Use
A personalized alcohol feedback form includes many inquiries that help someone get to the bottom of their drinking habits. It includes questions like, how often do you have a drink with alcohol in it? How many bottles per day do you have when you drink? Do you ever find you can’t stop drinking once you have started? Do you ever have more than six drinks in one sitting? How often do you feel remorse about drinking?
Strategies to Cut Back on Drinking
Alcohol treatment also provides plans for cutting back on drinking. These might include alternating a large glass of water with each alcoholic beverage. Keeping track of the exact amount you drink, and knowing the proper portion size for drinks can also help. Make sure you eat a meal and avoid triggers that will cause you to drink.
It is also a good idea to find alternatives to drinking. If you spend a lot of your day with a drink in your hand, look for healthy activities like exercise and meditation to take up the time.
Fraternity brothers seem determined to drink no matter what. Laws against underage drinking and alcohol intervention do not prevent them from obtaining and over-indulging in alcoholic beverages.
College Tricks: How Do Fraternity Brothers Obtain Alcohol?
