Rating student drinking and showing problem drinkers how their consumption ranks in relation to their peers can help prevent future overconsumption, experts say.

The Bergen Record reported April 15 that counselors at the school often elicit strong responses when they use a computer program to show students how their alcohol consumption stacks up to their classmates'. One freshman, for example, figured that three-quarters of his classmates drank as much as he did -- five beers a night on some occasions. The true figure: 37 percent.

"I didn't realize I was on the higher end," said the student, Ken, age 19.

"It's very influential for students to know where they stand in their peer group," said Lisa Laitman, head of Rutgers'  Alcohol and Other Drug Assistance Program for Students. "It breaks down some of their misperceptions."

Counselors at Rutgers performed the Brief Alcohol Screening and Intervention for College Students (BASICS) brief intervention on more than 700 students last year; students who have violated rules about underage drinking are required to take part. BASICS is now used at more than 1,500 colleges nationally. Researchers say that BASICS helps students make good choices about drinking by showing them that most students drink in moderation.