Persuasive Essay On College Drinking

According to a recent survey conducted by Student Monitor, a college market research company, college student’s state that the three biggest problems on college campuses are the cost, stress and drinking. Now more than ever, college binge drinking is becoming a relevant issue and it is often linked to rape and sexual assault. A recent study conducted by, The Maryland Collaborative to Reduce College Drinking and Related Problems, found “that alcohol use of any kind on campuses across the country each year results in 1,800 deaths; 600,000 injuries; 700,000 assaults by someone under the influence; and nearly 1 million rapes and sexual assaults”. There have been initiatives to lower college tuition and support systems to cope with the stress of school, but no specific and universal
action has been taken to reduce heavy college drinking, rape, and sexual assault on campus. To reduce binge drinking on college campuses, I propose that the United States significantly raise the price of strong alcohol and restrict the amount of alcohol to 80% and install a severe punishment for those who commit sexual assault and rape. Everclear, a strong grain alcohol that is 190 proof, is relatively cheap, at around $15 a bottle and easily accessible. Out of the 50 states in the United States, only 14 of these ban the sale of Everclear. Even if a state bans the sale of Everclear, it is still easy to get by traveling to another state. Instead of banning the sale, states should increase the price, potentially discoursing college students on a budget from purchasing such an expensive alcohol. In addition to raising the price, the United States should limit the alcohol content in strong beverages. According to Represenative Terese Berceau, there is a proposed bill that would make “liquor containing 80 percent or more alcohol by volume or 160 proof illegal”. Lowering the alcohol content would still allow those who favor a specific type of alcohol access to it, without making it illegal. With this in mind, if the United States instilled both of these policies together, I believe it would drastically reduce the number of binge drinkers on college campuses and lower sexual assault and rape.
It is common knowledge that the use of alcohol increases the rate of sexual assault.
Sexual assault is a major problem on college campuses and increases through the use of binge drinking. Considering this, I believe that if the United States enforced a stricter punishment for sexual assault and rape, these crimes would drastically decrease. Although there are established penalties for rape, these penalties can vary significantly. According to Lauren Baldwin, the “charge will depend on the type of force used…such as a rape at gun point. Possible sentences can range from one year to even life in prison, depending on the provisions of each state’s sentencing statute or sentencing guidelines”. However, the punishment for “criminal sexual contact without a weapon that involves only force or coercion, however, can be a misdemeanor. An offender convicted of a misdemeanor can be sentenced to up to one year in a jail but is not required to serve time in prison” (Baldwin). Clearly, there is not one clear penalty for any type of sexual assault. I believe that the United States enacted a severe punishment, such as a minimum of 10 years in prison for any sexual assault, these crimes would be
reduced.
In conclusion, college binge drinking and sexual assault are major problems today that are tied hand in hand. Most sexual assaults on college campuses are result from individuals drinking heavily. I believe these issues can be reduce through stricter, universal laws and punishments set by the United States, such as an alcohol reform and universal jail time for any form of sexual assault. If strict punishments were enforced, I believe college students would think twice before drinking heavily; reducing sexual assault on college campuses.