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Resources for UC Davis Parents

Many parents have concerns regarding alcohol. Surveys of high school students show that most students have consumed alcohol prior to coming to college. According to the 2008 Monitoring the Future Survey, 72% of 12th graders had tried alcohol. Some students may choose to abstain and others will begin to drink alcohol once they arrive to college. There are a number of resources at UC Davis to support students who choose not to drink, to prevent high-risk drinking among those who do drink and to assist those with alcohol-related problems. About 78% of UC Davis students surveyed reported having received information on alcohol and other drugs from the university (2009 National College Health Assessment).

Our campus takes a risk reduction approach by noting that underage drinking is illegal. We support students who choose not to drink and provide tools for students who choose to drink to help them lower their risk of suffering negative consequences associated with alcohol, regardless of their age.

As parents you can also play an important role in helping us prevent the negative consequences students can experience from high-risk drinking. While it might not be easy, please have this conversation. Before your student leaves for UC Davis, please establish an open line of communication that will enable you and your student to talk about alcohol and other drug use. Even if your student does not drink, he/she may want to share the following tips with roommates or friends. Below are some suggestions to help you with the conversation:

Communication Guidelines for Parents

  • Make academic performance a priority by establishing specific and realistic academic goals.
    • Studies show that partying can impact a student’s academic performance (poor performance on assignments and missed classes).
    • Clearly communicate your academic expectations. Students are more likely to work toward meeting these academic expectations and prioritize their studies over alcohol and other drugs.
  • Make sure your student understands that excessive alcohol and other drug use can reach toxic, deadly levels.
    • Every year students throughout the country die from alcohol poisoning and drug overdoses.
    • Discourage high-risk drinking (4+ drinks for women & 5+ drinks for men).
    • Make sure your student can recognize when another student’s life is in jeopardy and understands that it is his/her responsibility to call for help. Does your student know the signs of alcohol poisoning?
  • Your student has a right to a safe academic environment.
    • If your student does not drink, he/she may still be exposed to drunk students.
    • Encourage your student to deal with these problems by talking to the Residential Advisor or apartment manager.
  • Talk to your students about alcohol and other drug use on our campus.
    • Students often have misperceptions about their peers’ alcohol and drug use. Students may drink up to a misperceived norm.
    • Confront these misperceptions. According to the 2008 California Safer Schools Survey, 74% of UC Davis students did not engage in high-risk drinking during the past two weeks. Most UC Davis students consume 0-3 drinks when they party. 43% of UC Davis students reported not drinking in the past 30 days (2009 National College Health Assessment Survey).
    • Encourage your student to take the eCHECKUP TO GO (e-CHUG quiz). e-CHUG provides students with campus-specific social norms information. The brief assessment provides personalized feedback to help students identify their own key risk factors and protective behaviors. e-CHUG also compares drinks consumed to cheeseburgers consumed and money spent on alcohol. Students who complete the survey can receive a $5 gift certificate to Redrum Burger or 25% off one of our Safe Party t-shirts.
  • Keep any of your own personal college drinking stories in the past.
    • Be wary of sharing drinking stories as this could normalize the college-drinking behavior. The last thing you want to do is glorify your own college experiences with alcohol. This could come across to your student as parental approval for high-risk drinking.
  • Encourage your student to get an internship or volunteer in the community.
    • There are a number of volunteer opportunities on our campus. This will help structure your student’s free time and also provide your student with the opportunity to develop new skills, not to mention create a greater connection with the campus and Davis community.
    • Students who feel connected to their campus are more likely to stay in college.
  • Help your student understand that underage drinking, driving under the influence and other drug use is illegal.
    • Make it clear that you do not approve of high-risk drinking and other drug use.
    • If you drink, set a positive example with regards to responsible alcohol use.
  • Communication is key. While this is not an easy conversation, your student will benefit from hearing you talk about alcohol and other drugs. Continue to talk to your student while s/he is away from home as you can still influence your student and help guide him/her to make safer decisions.
    • Keep an open mind, remain calm and stay neutral. Be careful not to judge or express anger. Your student needs to feel comfortable asking questions and telling you about certain situations.
    • Put your emotions aside and listen. This allows your student to express fears and concerns without your interruptions.
    • Remember that you are trying to establish an ongoing conversation and this is not simply a one-time speech.
    • What to ask:
      • Ask about academics, roommates, your student’s extracurricular involvements and the social/drinking behavior of their roommates/friends. Your student might hesitate to share their own behaviors, but talking about their friends opens a door to have a conversation about healthy behaviors.
      • Avoid yes or no questions, instead ask open-ended questions (e.g. how do you spend your free time when you are not studying?).
      • If there is something you want to know, ask.

(adapted from an article in College Parents of America by William DeJong and Linda Devine found on the Higher Education Center website)

Party Safety Tips for Your Student

Share these risk reduction tools with your student:

  • Know your serving size. Alcohol is alcohol. A standard drink is 12 oz. of beer, 5 oz. of wine, or 1.5 oz. of 80-proof liquor.
  • Don’t make alcohol the focus of the night.
  • Eat high protein foods before and during drinking to slow down the alcohol absorption rate. 80% of UC Davis students surveyed who drink reported eating before or during drinking always/most of the time (2007 National College Health Assessment)
  • Alternate alcoholic beverages and non-alcoholic beverages (water, soda, juice, etc.).
  • Set a limit of how many drinks you’re going to have and stick to it.
  • Avoiding drinking games. Drinking games lead to high-risk drinking and the inability to stick to a drinking limit.
  • Use alcohol cautiously in connection with any medication or other drugs. For example, antihistamines and alcohol can induce excessive sedation, so it would be best to avoid this combination.
  • Use a buddy system. Go to a party with your friends and always leave together. If someone you just met wants to walk you home, thank him/her for the offer and leave with the group you came with. You can always see this person the next day, when you’re both sober. 86% of UC Davis students surveyed who reported drinking stay with the same group of friends when they party always/most of the time (2009 National College Health Assessment).
  • Let your friends know when he/she has had enough to drink. Look out for others and know when to get help.
  • Designate a non-drinking driver in the group to ensure everyone stays safe. 86% of UC Davis students surveyed who reported drinking use a designated driver always/most of the time (2009 National College Health Assessment).

More tips are available in the Party Goer section of this website.

Most UC Davis Students Do Not Use Illegal Drugs

  • Alcohol is the most commonly used substance on our college campus.
  • The following data reflects drug use reported during the past quarter, (2008 Safer California Schools Survey):
    • Marijuana - 18.4%
    • Other Hallucinogens - 1.0%
    • Cocaine - 1.0%
    • Amphetamines - 1.0%
    • Heroin, Morphine, etc. - 0.9%
    • Inhalants - 0.5%
    • GHB - 0.3%
    • Rohypnol - 0.3%

Alcohol Policy and Enforcement Efforts

Make sure both you and your student are familiar with campus, city, state and federal regulations around alcohol use. It is important to be aware of these and consider the potential consequences of an action.

  • Student Judicial Affairs may exercise jurisdiction over student conduct incidents that occur on-campus or off-campus (even outside of Davis).
  • The first six-weeks of school are a critical period for students. The City and Campus Police Departments increase enforcement efforts during this period to keep everyone safe and handle the influx of new Davis residents. DUI checkpoints and alcohol safety enforcement patrols are used to enhance community safety and reduce alcohol-related problems.

For Students Living Off-campus

  • If your student is thinking about hosting a party, your student should understand the host liabilities and become familiar with our safer party host tips. The party host is responsible for the safety and welfare of all their guests, even those who are uninvited. Does your student know the signs of alcohol poisoning and who to call in case of an emergency?
  • Encourage your student to respect the campus and City of Davis community. The campus and community will soon become your student’s “home away from home.” Students should meet their neighbors to establish good relations.

For Students Who Choose Not to Drink

Intervention Services When There is a Problem

We know you are concerned about your student’s academic success and overall wellness. If you think your student is experiencing alcohol-related problems, please don’t hesitate to seek help. Look for the common signs (below) and refer your student to the Alcohol & Drug Abuse Prevention & Treatment (ADAPT) Intervention Coordinator if needed.

  • Signs that alcohol or drug use may be affecting your student:
    • Missing class
    • Getting lower grades
    • Neglecting obligations to family
    • Having health problems
    • Being unable to account for time
    • Preferring friends that drink more than they do so they don’t feel like they have a problem
    • Denying that there’s a problem with alcohol or other drugs
  • Does your student have a problem? Ask the following consumption questions that focus on frequency, quantity and high-risk drinking:
    • How many days per week do you drink alcohol?
    • On a typical day when you drink alcohol, how many standard drinks do you have?
    • How many times per month do you drink more than 3-4 drinks on a single occasion?
    • A positive screen would include students who drink alcohol everyday, men who drink more than 14 drinks per day, women who drink more than 7 drinks per week and men and women who drink more than 3-4 drinks per occasion; however, not meeting this description does not guarantee that there isn’t a problem.
  • What help is available at UC Davis for students with an alcohol or other drug problem?
    • If you are concerned about your student’s alcohol or drug use, suggest that your student contact our ADAPT Intervention Coordinator at 530.752.6334. Students can make an appointment with the Intervention Coordinator, whose services are free and confidential. To schedule an appointment, students can use the Student Health Services Health-e-Messaging service or call 530.752.6334.
    • Family members may also contact the ADAPT Intervention Coordinator to get general suggestions on how to help your student. In order for the Intervention Coordinator to be able to answer questions regarding her communication with your student, the student will need to sign Authorization of the Release of Health Information, authorizing the release of information to you related to alcohol or other drug abuse.
  • Additional information on ADAPT services can be found on the Student Health Services website.

Additional Resources

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