Alternatives to Drinking
For many college students, their freshman year is the first time they take full responsibility for how they spend their time. Like many colleges and universities across the country, UW–Madison struggles with issues regarding the availability of alcohol and its widespread use. As a parent, you can be an essential partner in helping your student understand the consequences of high-risk drinking and share alternatives, including:
- Joining one of more than 700 student organizations or an educationally focused fraternity or sorority
- Attending events hosted in their residence halls
- Going to late-night activities offered at the student unions such as live bands, movies, “Free Art Friday” at the Craftshop, and dances
- Working out at the recreational facilities, taking advantage of “Up All Night” at the SERF, and joining a club or intramural sport
- Volunteering or getting a job on campus or in the community
- Going beyond campus and exploring the many destinations in the Madison area, such as: visiting a restaurant on State Street, taking in a show at the Overture Center, or attending a concert at the Kohl Center or Alliant Energy Center
For more information about these and other activities, visit the “Out-of-Class Learning” and “Things to See and Do” sections on the Parent Program Web site. To find out what the campus is doing to reduce high-risk drinking, including suggestions on ways to talk with your student about alcohol, visit the PACE Program Web site or contact Parent Program staff.