The Ramifications of Underaged Drinking Among College Students

Hello! This is a story that I wrote at the beginning of the semester. It covers the problem that many college students struggle with, underage drinking. It offers resources for students who want to overcome their alcoholism, the legal issues that students can run into, and some statistics about underage drinking. Drinking culture for college students is a serious problem and can lead to negative consequences later in life and it should be addressed early rather than later. Hope you enjoy!

Students under the age of 21 attending SUNY Oswego who are caught drinking alcohol can expect to receive serious repercussions both on and off campus. 

Drinking is a major part of college culture, though, not drinking safely or legally can lead to students getting arrested or receiving disciplinary consequences.

Kelly Sheffield, a Probation Supervisor at the Oswego County Probation Department, said “Mostly what we see here in our department that is the biggest offense related to alcohol, in general, is driving while intoxicated.” 

In New York State, the blood alcohol content (BAC) for someone 21 years or older must be below .08% while driving. Anything higher and the driver will be charged with a DWI. This does not apply to people under 21 due to the Zero Tolerance Law.

Under this law, according to the New York Department of Motor Vehicles, anyone under 21 with a BAC of .02% can get arrested and charged with a DWI.

After the driver's first offense, they must pay up to $225 in fees and their licenses will be suspended for six months. After a second offense, they must pay another $225 in fees and their licenses will be revoked for one year or until they turn 21.

Depending on the severity of the DWI charge, one might also have to install an ignition interlock device in their vehicle to prevent future instances of DWI. The driver must blow into a device like a breathalyzer for the car to start.

Another way that underage drinkers can get into trouble with the law is by using a fake ID to purchase alcohol.

“You can actually get a suspense on your license,” Sheffield said regarding the use of a fake ID. “You can get sentenced to do community service.”

            To receive certain grants and funding from the government, many colleges must follow the Federal Drug-Free Schools and Community Act of 1989. This act ensures that government-funded colleges are drug-free and dry campuses.

            According to the SUNY Oswego’s 2024-2025 annual notification, the “abuse of alcohol, the unlawful sale, possession, or distribution of alcohol… is prohibited on and off College premises, at College-sponsored events, or at events sponsored by student organizations or student groups.”

            According to this notification, those who violate this policy will be subject to “disciplinary sanctions” such as expulsion. SUNY Oswego makes all new students take a 90-minute Alcohol education course before the start of their first semester.

            According to a survey done by the National Survey on Drug Use and Health (NSDUH) in 2023, 33.1% of people between the ages of 12 and 20 have consumed alcohol at some point in their life. This can lead to young drinkers developing Alcohol Use Disorder, or alcoholism, later in life.

            According to another survey done by the NSDUH, “Adults ages 26 and older who began drinking before age 15 are 3.5 times more likely to report having AUD in the past year than those who waited until age 21 or later to begin drinking.” 

            Alcohol impairs people's decision-making and critical thinking, putting underage individuals at risk of engaging in illegal or hazardous activities. This includes getting into physical altercations, motor vehicle accidents, being a victim or offender of sexual assault and getting alcohol poisoning, according to the Nation Institue on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism.

“We always ask people, ‘How do you feel about what you did?’” Sheffield said. “And they always say, ‘I’m not blaming the alcohol, but if I hadn’t been drinking, I would have never put myself into that situation to begin with.’”

            There are numerous resources in Oswego to help people overcome their struggle with addiction.

            Oswego County has a Program called “STOP-DWI.” This program, coordinated by David Hall, spreads awareness of drunk driving by attending public fairs and local High Schools around Oswego County.

            The purpose of this program is to “…plan for coordination of county, town, city, village efforts to reduce alcohol-related traffic injuries and fatalities,” according to their website.

            These educational booths and presentations offer interactive activities that educate the community about the dangers of drunk driving. This program also hosts the Victim Impact Panel, where victims of alcohol-related crashes reflect on their experiences to not only the public but also people who have been charged with impaired driving.

            According to Stacey Lighthall, a Senior Probation Officer, and STOP-DWI Educator, STOP-DWI is discussing ways to help spread awareness about STOP-DWIs to local bars. They discussed supplying local bars with information about the program to give to the patrons.

            SUNY Oswego offers confidential counseling sessions with professionals for students. Workshops take place throughout each semester to help with the mental health aspects of addiction. There are also group therapy sessions for students to attend to help them talk about their addiction with their peers.

            The Assistant Dean of Students for Alcohol and Drug Education, Trisha DeWolf, said “Ultimately, we’re not here to make students feel worse about what happened. Off-campus or on-campus. But we just want them to have the correct information. And if they want extra help or resources, we’re there for them too.”

            Underage drinkers should understand that there are no repercussions for asking for help. If a student at SUNY Oswego is struggling with alcohol addiction and needs help recovering, they should seek help from a professional on and off campus.