The INTERNATIONAL STUDENT - Vol.51 - November, 1953 - Drinking in College Review

Sep 21, 2026

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November 1953 issue of The INTERNATIONAL STUDENT, focusing on college drinking and its social meaning. The editorial framing highlights “Drinking in College” as a careful, survey-based report from the Yale University Center of Alcohol Studies, emphasizing responsible interpretation over sensationalism. It discusses how student drinking reflects broader patterns among young adults, the role of home customs and parental attitudes, and the need for wider education grounded in scientific, factual examination.

LanguageEnglish

CategoryResearch & Report

FormatPDF

Pages36

Reading Time1 h 31 min

AccessFree to download

College Drink-And The Home Community

Suggestions for Study

“Drinking In College”

A REVIEW

Some Broad Observations

NOVEMBER1953 N0 301953 “Democracyis somethingdeeper thanLiberty;it isResponsibility” MARYGROVE COLLEGELIBRARY DETROIT,MICHIGAN PLEASE DO NOT REMOVETHE INTERNATIONALSTUDENT--And Digest of Alcohol StudiesIn This Number“Drinking in College” # —A Review of the BookCollege Drink Attitudes at Different Periods in America. 一Condensation of the pamphlet"Alcohol Trends in College Life."A view of theYale DivinityQuadrangleNew Haven,Conn. THE INTERNATIONALSTUDENT Vol.51,No.2 November,1953 HARRY S.WARNER,Editor IXTERNATIONAL EDITORIAL COUNCIL:Edwin H.Maynard,Chi-cazo.11.;Wm.Roderic Covey,Canton,Ohio;Henry C.Jacobs,Grand Rapids,Mich.;Barbara A.McNutt,Mt Alliston University,Sackville,New Brunswick;Jeerry A.Kurland,Montreal Canada;Matti Voipio.Helsinki,Finland;BoNilsson,Stockholm,Sweden;Howard G.McLain,Columbia,S.C.;Donald A.Groskreutz,Wartburg Seminary,Dubuque.Iowa. College Drink-And The Home Gommunity ## Suggestions for Study UNEXPECTED factors of much significance may beseen in the survey of “College Drinking”today,justpublished at Yale.These factors are no less evi-dent when compared with surveys less scientificallymade,perhaps,but no less realistic at earlier periodsin American college history. Among them are,first,the question:Is there any suchthing as"college drinking,"a pattern that newspaperand magazine writers have been exploiting for a half-century.Second:Drinking among college students,isa dramatic cross-section of what has occturred amongother young eople of similar age.Third,the main factoras it stands out in this survey,are the practices of thehome;the customs,attitudes,traditions of the parentsand their social connections. But while college life is thus freed fron the criticismof being a period of dramatic boozing,it seems clearthat the four years gives,to the great majority of stu-dents,little or no such basic understanding as will re-sult in the formation of a sense of concern and respon-sibility for the social consequences of this custom. ## “Drinking In College” By Robert Straus and Selden D.Bacon,1953 ## A REVIEW F CAREFULLY gathered factual information regard-ing drinking by college students today—and by infer-ence other young people of similar age---is what youwant,here it is. I If you are concerned,or merely curious,about what ishappening in this particular group of young citizens,and want realistic knowledge about drinking in campus-side hangouts,in the fraternities,at parties and the bigcelebrations,who drink,how often,where,and why,andwho decline"the accepted pattern,"among men andwomen students alike,you will find the facts in thisbook.For this information gives all of us a dependablefoundation for serious thinking and action—if,indeed,we are not already satisfied or have widely divergentviewpoints. For to gain an understanding of drinking today at thecollege level,free from the dramatic exhibitionalism thatfrequently mars the stories appearing in magazines andnewspapers,is the scope and purpose of "DRINKINGIN COLLEGE,"the report of a survey of four yearsmade by Drs.Robert Straus and Selden D.Bacon atthe Yale University Center of Alcohol Studies. Designed to make information definite about collegedrink practices and attitudes,the book goes much fur-ther.Whether so intended or not—and it was apparentlynot so intended—it brings with its study of the collegesituatio1 a reflection of what is happening amongyounger people generally,the young adults of today,andthe fathers and mothers of high school and college youth. It sheds a brilliant light on what precedes much of whatstands out in public mis-information as originating athigh school and in college. So far as it relates to the survey made a1nd the inter-pretation of the material gathered,the book is highlyscientific and objective,a vital source for study and con-structive activity. The result of two years of research by the question-naire method,following nearly two years of preparationand test

FAQs

What is the core focus of this issue’s review of “Drinking In College”?

It reviews a four-year survey report on drinking by college students, aiming to provide realistic, factual understanding rather than sensational magazine or newspaper portrayals.

How does the survey connect college drinking to broader youth and society?

It presents drinking among college students as a cross-section of what has occurred among other young people of similar age, and it links current practices to traditions and attitudes carried from home.

What does the review identify as a key need beyond describing drinking habits?

It emphasizes the need for wider, more basic education about alcohol traditions in modern living, grounded in scientific findings and public discussion of background and consequences.

Sep 21, 2026

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