Harvard University researchers found that people living within a mile of college campuses are more than twice as likely to experience vandalism, assault, and other disturbances resulting from students' binge drinking as those who live more than a mile from campus.

Students vomiting, urinating, and awakening people with revelry are other common problems for campus neighbors. "It's appalling that the negative impact of binge drinking is reaching well beyond the college campus into nearby neighborhoods," said Henry Wechsler, principal investigator of the Harvard School of Public Health College Alcohol Study.

The researchers further found that liquor stores and bars are more likely to open near colleges with high rates of student drinking. "The culture of binge drinking is entrenched in college life and compounded by the easy access of alcohol near campus," Wechsler said. "Alcohol outlets attract students with drink specials that seem to foster a binge-drinking environment. As a result, residents are more likely to experience higher rates of neighborhood disruption."

The study was based on a telephone survey of 4,661 households in the United States. The findings are published in the July 2002 issue of the journal Social Science and Medicine.

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