OTTAWA (CUP) — The genera- tion of students now making its way through the country’s col- leges and universities may be the most health conscious ever, but alcohol abuse is no relic from the past.

A CUP survey of several uni- versity health service departments indicates the popularity of drink- ing has remained a steady pro- blem, and several universities as well as the federal government have campaigns to slow alcohol

use.

“Alcohol is much more likely to be a problem than drugs. Alcohol is the number one problem here,’”” said David Smith, director of Health Services at the University of Toronto. However, Smith be- lieves the problem is under control.

Other health officials are not as optimistic. ‘‘We’re seeing a lot more alcohol related incidents,” said Joan Davis of health services at Carleton University in Ottawa. “Availability and low pricing are definitely contributing factors to the problem.”” z

To curb student drinking, Carleton launched a responsible drinking campaign last September. Davis said the campaign is pri- marily educational, but will affect: beer and liquor prices on campus, and restrict brewery access to Carleton students. The university

Heavy drinking still popular

is also encouraging non-alcoholic activities, Davis said.

Dalhousie University in Halifax is also countering a tide of stu- dent drinking and according to health services director Joe Johnson, the results show the campaign is working.

“Alcohol is less of a problem than it used to be. We used a quiet campaign and as a result bar sales went down last year,” he said. For Johnson’s department, “marijuana abuse is much more noticeable. More students around here are having trouble with it. It affects their studies and their performance.”

“Alcohol abuse at the Univer- sity of Saskatchewan has been a curse for the school since 18-year- old Shawn Reineke, a non-student was killed at a residence party in September, 1984. Jack Andrews, a social worker at the university’s health services department, says the university’s campaign to combat excessive drinking has improved the school’s image.

“There’s been quite a reaction since then. It was a real concern here ... but I don’t think it’s a greater problem here than on any other campus,”’ he said.

“‘We’re more concerned with group abuse of alcohol, where several people get together and

New Voice winners announced

New Voices Winners Announced

The winning plays in the fourth annual New Voices Playwriting Competition conducted by Island Community Theatre have been announced. Judged as the top play is “The Heirloom” by J. J. Steinfeld. Mr. Steinfeld, who was awarded first place in last year’s competition will receive the first prize, an Olivetti electronic type- writer donated by Wizard Busi- ness Products, Inc.

Awarded second place was “Dogs and Chicken’? by David Moses. He will receive a cash prize of $200.00, the Eastern Graphic Award. Mr. Moses is well known in local theatre circles particularly for productions he has directed for the U.P.E.I. Theatre Society.

“The House at Abell’s Cape” by Michael Hennessey will receive the third place Q93 Award of $100.00. Mr. Hennessey was winner of the first New Voices

competition for his play “The

Trial of Minnie McGee” in 1983. The judges also cited three other entries for Honourable Mention. They are: ‘‘Maggie Hannigan’s War by Michael Hennessey; ‘‘Jackpot’’ by Wayne Wright and “Morning Belongs to Columbus” by Davie Kellum.

The judges in this year’s com- petition were journalist/broad- caster Kennedy Wells; Richard Lemm, head of the poetry section at the Banff School of Fine Arts; and, Deb Allen, actress, director and broadcaster.

In addition to this year’s New Voices competition being the largest to date, the judges were also. impressed by the overall quality of the entries. All partici- pants will receive summaries of the judges assessments of their plays.

A reception for the participants will be held at 2 p.m. on March 25 at the offices of the P.E.I. Council of the 4

drink too much. That’s the real danger,” he said.

Andrews says the university and student union are ing more

all this trouble.”

Wade said overall beer sales have not swayed for years, despite stiff ition from universi

“By the time you're 29, you've established your lifestyle, career and brand preference, so it’s not a

non-alcoholic events through a

new programme called Cheers. “We've encouraged the campus groups to really downplace the use-of alcohol in their events, to place less emphasis on the import- ance of alcohol,’’ he said.

There have been difficulties, though. “The problem is that smaller groups use alcoholic events as fundraising tool, and say they don’t have much else to use,” said Andrews.

Breweries don’t appear to like.

these moderation campaigns. Bill Wade, a marketing representative for Labatt’s in Ottawa, said ‘‘you can appreciate it from our view- point that (students) are an attrac- tive market, and it’s the very small minority that is causing everyone

promoting moderate drinking.

Advocates of moderation have been helped by the federal govern- ment, which in the past two years has kicked in more than $2 million in advertising alone to fight over- drinking. According to Rachel Ladouceur, a Health and Welfare official who co-ordinates the advertising campaign, students are listening to the moderation message.

“Tt was very successful last year — the awareness level (of alcohol abuse) has increased by more than 20 per cent,’’ she said.

Last year’s campaign was tar- getted for an audience between 15 and 29 years of age. This year, though, the government is nar- rowing the age group.

concern,” she said. The government now is looking at two groups: the underaged drinker and the young (19-24) drinker.

Ladouceur says the advertising campaign, which this year will use mostly radio ‘‘is trying to portray a lifestyle where people turned down a drink that was offered to them. One person’s refusal can influence a young person’s deci- sion. It’s peer pressure, I guess, but it’s used in a positive way,”” she said.

Except for those under the legal drinking age, Ladouceur says the government isn’t discouraging anyone from drinking. ‘Drinking is okay — it’s lots of fun and a good opportunity to socialize.

“But you must. have some moderation,”’ she said.

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