Planning 

Alcohol

Interventions

Using NIAAA’s 

COLLEGE AIM

·

National Institute

on Alcohol Abuse 

and Alcoholism
The National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism’s CollegeAIM was 

developed for higher education officials, particularly alcohol and other drug 

program and student life staff, who seek to address harmful and underage 

drinking among their students. CollegeAIM is intended to inform and guide 

officials as they choose interventions for their campus communities. 
Contents

Introduction...................................................................................................................................... 1

About CollegeAIM ........................................................................................................................... 3

About the Interventions in CollegeAIM.......................................................................................... 5

How To Use CollegeAIM................................................................................................................. 7

The CollegeAIM Tool 

Matrix of Individual-Level Strategies ......................................................................................... 11

Matrix of Environmental-Level Strategies.................................................................................. 12

Strategy Summary Tables

Individual-Level Strategies........................................................................................................ 13

Environmental-Level Strategies ................................................................................................ 19 

Appendices

A: Strategy Planning Worksheet............................................................................................... 27

 B: Frequently Asked Questions................................................................................................ 28 

C: Supporting Resources......................................................................................................... 29

D: Acknowledgments............................................................................................................... 30
Introduction

Harmful and underage drinking remain significant problems 

on U.S. campuses, despite our collective efforts to address 

them. Higher education officials understand that, all too 

often, alcohol-related problems can seem intractable, 

leading to questions and frustration over how best to 

reduce student drinking and its negative consequences.

The National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism 

(NIAAA) developed the CollegeAIM guide and website to 

help college personnel choose wisely among the many 

potential interventions to address harmful and underage 

college student drinking. 

The centerpiece of the guide is a user-friendly, matrix-based 

tool developed with input from leading college alcohol 

researchers, along with college student life and alcohol 

and other drug (AOD) program staff. With this “college 

alcohol intervention matrix”—or CollegeAIM tool—school 

officials can easily use research-based information to 

inform decisions about alcohol intervention strategies.

If you are involved in efforts to reduce underage drinking 

and prevent alcohol-related harm on your campus, you are 

in a critical position to improve the health and safety of your 

students—and NIAAA’s CollegeAIM can help. 

1 www.CollegeDrinkingPrevention.gov/CollegeAIM 
How can CollegeAIM help? 

It can be challenging to decide where to focus your prevention efforts 

and dollars—especially given the magnitude of the problem and the 

dozens of varied interventions available. 

CollegeAIM provides the evidence-based information you need 

to compare a broad range of alcohol interventions. By rating 

the relative effectiveness and other characteristics of nearly 

60 strategies, CollegeAIM will help you: 

• 

• 

• 

• 

Identify strategies most likely to reduce drinking and its harmful 

consequences, 

See how your current strategies compare with other options,

Find new, research-based strategies to consider, and 

Select a combination of approaches that meets the needs of 

your students and campus.

Where does CollegeAIM fit into an overall 

prevention planning process? 

CollegeAIM, with its matrix-based tool, guide, website, and related 

resources, is meant to be used in conjunction with your school’s 

own processes for anticipating and responding to the needs of your 

student body, campus environment, and surrounding community. 

You probably already apply a variation of these steps for college 

prevention programs:

• 

• 

• 

• 

Assess the problems on your campus and set priorities, 

Select strategies by exploring evidence-based interventions, 

Plan how you’ll carry out the chosen strategies and how 

you’ll measure results, and

Take action—implement the chosen strategies, evaluate them, 

and refine your program.

CollegeAIM supports the second step, select strategies. For help 

with the other phases, please see the Supporting Resources on 

page 29 and on the CollegeAIM website (see URL below). 

What’s in this guide? 

To help you choose an appropriate mix of effective, evidencebased interventions, CollegeAIM contains two matrices: one 

for environmental-level interventions, which target the campus 

community and student population as a whole, and the other 

for interventions that target individual students, including those in 

higher-risk groups, such as first-year students, student athletes, 

members of Greek organizations, and mandated students. 

Beyond rating the relative effectiveness of these strategies, the 

matrices provide estimates for anticipated costs, barriers to 

implementation, and other factors. 

This guide also contains two summary tables that further 

define and characterize the interventions, a strategy planning 

worksheet, a list of the frequently asked questions answered 

online on the CollegeAIM website (see URL below), and a list of 

additional resources. 

www.CollegeDrinkingPrevention.gov/CollegeAIM 2

Assess Select

Take Action Plan
About CollegeAIM

CollegeAIM is distinctive because of the number and expertise of 

its contributors and the breadth of research covered by its analysis. 

How was CollegeAIM created? CollegeAIM is the product of a multi-year collaboration among 

college alcohol intervention researchers, college AOD and 

student life professionals, and NIAAA staff. Two development 

teams, each with three researchers, worked with NIAAA to 

produce CollegeAIM. The first phase involved identifying the 

interventions to be included in CollegeAIM and the factors by 

which they would be evaluated. The second phase involved 

analyzing the substantial research literature on college alcohol 

interventions and rating each of the interventions according to 

those factors. Ultimately, the development teams examined and 

rated nearly 60 interventions on their relative effectiveness, costs, 

barriers to implementation, and amount and quality of research, 

among other variables.

In the subsequent phase, an additional 10 college alcohol researchers 

reviewed the analysis, applied their knowledge and professional 

judgment, and provided detailed feedback for refinements. 

Through multiple rounds of reviews and revisions, this consensus 

process distilled the results of decades of research and hundreds of 

studies into a user-friendly decision tool. 

For more information on the methodology, see the Frequently Asked 

Questions section of the CollegeAIM website (see URL below). 

What it is, what it’s not. 

CollegeAIM is grounded in a matrix-based tool that evaluates 

dozens of environmental- and individual-level interventions, 

allowing you to compare and contrast strategies across a number 

of criteria. Additional detailed information on each intervention is 

presented in summary tables, providing in-depth descriptions to 

help you choose wisely among many available options. 

Although CollegeAIM covers an extensive list of strategies, 

it does not include every possible intervention available to 

colleges, nor does it outline the combination of strategies 

appropriate for any given school. With a few exceptions, 

CollegeAIM focuses on interventions to reduce underage 

and excessive alcohol consumption as a way to reduce their 

harmful consequences, rather than focusing directly on the 

consequences themselves. 

An evolving information base. 

As with any effort that relies on current research, CollegeAIM

is a work in progress and will evolve as new research findings 

emerge. NIAAA will conduct updates about every two years, 

with input from the research community. 

3 www.CollegeDrinkingPrevention.gov/CollegeAIM 
Why Intervene? 

College Drinking Is a Big Deal 

While some see college drinking, even to excess, as a harmless rite 

of passage, it often results in adverse consequences for students 

and their schools.

Consequences for Students:

• 

• 

• 

Academic fallout: Missed classes, poor school performance, 

withdrawal from courses, and dropping out

Health problems: Alcohol use disorder and other alcohol-related 

problems, such as sleep issues and depression 

Acute risks: Impaired driving, unsafe sex, fights, sexual assaults, 

suicide attempts, unintentional injuries, overdoses, and death

Even students who don’t drink may experience secondhand effects, 

such as disrupted study and sleep, or being the victim of an alcoholrelated assault. 

Consequences for Schools:

• 

• 

• 

• 

Higher costs for health care and security

Costs related to campus vandalism

Costs related to attrition and the need for additional recruitment 

Damage to a school’s reputation

College drinking is a big deal. The problem is complex and challenging, 

but you can reduce the likelihood of alcohol-related harm to your 

students. Commit to a plan using evidence-based interventions. 

www.CollegeDrinkingPrevention.gov/CollegeAIM 4
About the Interventions 

in CollegeAIM

In the past several decades, significant progress has been made 

in clarifying what does and doesn’t work to prevent alcohol-related 

problems among college students. Hundreds of studies have 

been published in peer-reviewed journals, providing the foundation 

for CollegeAIM.

Of the intervention strategies in CollegeAIM, more than half have 

shown some degree of effectiveness, about a third have mixed 

results or have too little evidence to warrant an effectiveness 

rating, and a few have been shown to be ineffective. All are 

included so you can see how your current strategies stack up; 

identify other, perhaps more effective options; and compare costs, 

barriers to implementation, and other information to help your 

planning and decision-making process.

Two types of strategies: individual 

and environmental. To cover the full spectrum of alcohol-related problems most 

campuses face, CollegeAIM includes 24 individual-level strategies 

and 36 environmental-level strategies. 

Individual-level strategies are designed to change your 

students’ knowledge, attitudes, and behaviors related to alcohol 

so that students drink less, take fewer risks, and experience 

fewer harmful consequences. Categories of individual-level 

interventions include education and awareness programs, 

cognitive-behavioral skills-based approaches, motivation and 

feedback-related approaches, and behavioral interventions by health 

professionals. 

Environmental-level strategies are designed to change the 

campus and community environments in which student drinking 

occurs. Often, a major goal is to reduce the availability of alcohol, 

because research shows that reducing alcohol availability cuts 

consumption and harmful consequences on campuses as well 

as in the general population. Note that by focusing on single, 

stand-alone environmental strategies, this tool does not include 

multi-component environmental programs, some of which have 

shown success. Some strategies used in successful multicomponent programs, such as party patrols, may not have had 

enough research to demonstrate their effectiveness when used 

in isolation. Even so, this strategy and others designed to reduce 

alcohol availability may add to the effectiveness of a comprehensive 

campus program.

A mix of strategies is best.

Your greatest chance for creating a safer campus will likely 

come from a combination of individual- and environmental-level 

interventions that work together to maximize positive effects. 

Individual-level strategies generally aim to assist students identified 

as problem, at-risk, or alcohol-dependent drinkers. It is important 

to engage these students as early as possible. Environmental 

strategies seek to affect the behavior of the overall student 

population by addressing the factors that accommodate or 

promote underage and high-risk drinking. Reducing the availability 

of alcohol in the broader campus and community environment, for 

example, can have wide-ranging positive effects for all students 

and the campus as a whole. 

5 www.CollegeDrinkingPrevention.gov/CollegeAIM 
In short, as you develop your action plan, remember to include 

strategies that target individual students, the student body as a whole, 

and the broader college community.

Cut harmful consequences by reducing 

student drinking.

The strategies included in CollegeAIM focus primarily on reducing 

student drinking—and thereby reducing all possible harmful 

consequences—rather than on trying to prevent particular outcomes 

such as overdoses, sexual assaults, or alcohol-impaired driving. Three 

exceptions—amnesty policies, alcohol bystander interventions, and 

safe ride programs—are also included because a large number of 

campuses have instituted these programs. However, research has not 

yet established clear evidence of effectiveness for these strategies (see the 

matrix on page 12).

One consequence stands out in magnitude and may be a particular 

challenge for college AOD staff to address: alcohol-impaired driving. 

Alcohol-impaired driving accounts for the majority of alcohol-related 

deaths among college students nationwide. Your efforts to reduce 

student drinking will likely reduce the risk of alcohol-impaired driving 

as well; however, if you would like to take specific additional steps to help 

prevent your students from driving while impaired, please see the Frequently 

Asked Questions section of the CollegeAIM website (see URL below). 

Campus and Community Partners Can Help 

College AOD offices are often small in staff and budget, and some 

interventions may be beyond their purview. You can expand 

your reach and impact by enlisting people in other campus 

departments and in your community to help reduce alcoholrelated harm among your students. 

Who on your campus can help? A few possibilities: 

•

•

•

Health and counseling centers can conduct routine alcohol 

screening and brief interventions with your students. 

Behavioral and social science departments, both instructors 

and students, can plan and execute data collection and 

evaluate your interventions. 

Campus security can support onsite environmental 

interventions and share data on alcohol-related incidents. 

Some of the most effective strategies are carried out in the 

communities and states surrounding the campuses, such as 

enforcing the minimum legal drinking age. Campus leaders can be 

influential in bringing about off-campus environmental changes that 

protect students. 

To achieve success off campus, partner with leaders and advocates 

in your community and state. Building these partnerships takes 

time, so you may want to make it part of a long-term plan. For 

models of campus-community collaboration, see the Frequently 

Asked Questions section of the CollegeAIM website (see URL below).

www.CollegeDrinkingPrevention.gov/CollegeAIM 6
How To Use CollegeAIM

7 www.CollegeDrinkingPrevention.gov/CollegeAIM

Now that you have a basic understanding of CollegeAIM and how 

it can help you select evidence-based interventions, you’re ready 

to start using it. This section offers instructions on how to work 

your way through the guide and make the best use of its features.

Before using CollegeAIM: Briefly assess the 

problems on your campus. 

The first step for effective intervention programming is to 

understand the nature of alcohol-related problems on your 

campus and answer the question, “What do we need to focus 

on now?” Consider how alcohol problems manifest themselves 

at your school. What do they look like? For example, are there 

problems with your Greek system? In your first-year residence 

halls? In off-campus student housing? Are there issues related to 

retail establishments in your neighborhood? Are there fights and 

vandalism at your school’s athletic events? Do most problems 

occur at certain times of day or on certain days of the week? In 

short, what are the times, places, and subgroups that give rise to 

alcohol-related harm? 

To help zero in on your school’s most pressing needs, you can 

consult with colleagues and key stakeholders who can provide 

data along with informal reports. A collaborative process to assess 

your campus needs will yield the best results. It’s important to do 

some research to inform your decisions, but do not get so bogged 

down that you lose momentum. 

For information about developing a manageable system for 

assessing and monitoring alcohol-related problems on your 

campus, please see the Supporting Resources on page 29 and 

the Frequently Asked Questions section of the CollegeAIM

website (see URL below). 

As you plan, it is also a good idea to be aware of the state and 

local alcohol laws and policies in your community. For details 

about alcohol-related policies at the state level, visit NIAAA’s Alcohol 

Policy Information System at www.alcoholpolicy.niaaa.nih.gov.

Consult the matrices. 

Once you have outlined your school’s needs, CollegeAIM

can help you: 

1) Inventory and rate your current strategies: First, list basic 

information and notes about your current strategies on the Strategy 

Planning Worksheet, found on page 27 and downloadable from 

the CollegeAIM website. Next, check the matrices on pages 

11 and 12, and then the summary tables on pages 13–24 to 

see how your current interventions fare in terms of effectiveness, 

costs (including staff time), and other criteria of interest to you. 

Add this information to the worksheet. 

2) Consider alternative strategies: Next, compare your strategies 

to other interventions in the matrices to see if any new, effective 

approaches might replace some of your existing strategies or be 

added to your overall plan. Add key information about potential 

new strategies to the worksheet.

As you review your list of potential interventions, remember that 

no single strategy is likely to be sufficient to address college 

student drinking and the problems it causes. In general, using 

a combination of individual and environmental strategies has 

the best chance for success. Thus, the task is to put together 

a manageable mix of strategies from CollegeAIM that fits your 

school’s priorities and your budget.

9 www.CollegeDrinkingPrevention.gov/CollegeAIM

Make a plan and put it into action. 

With information on your school’s needs and current activities, and 

the results from CollegeAIM summarized on your Strategy Planning 

Worksheet, you can outline and execute plans to implement 

specific strategies on your campus, measure the results, and 

review and refine your practices. 

For additional guidance and information on these steps, see 

the Supporting Resources section on page 29 and on the 

CollegeAIM website (see URL below), where you’ll find links 

to help you implement many of the strategies rated as effective 

in CollegeAIM.

Although there is no simple solution to the problem of underage 

and harmful college drinking, choosing your interventions, with 

help from CollegeAIM, boosts your odds of success by ensuring 

that you are using credible, evidence-based information to guide 

your decisions.

9 www.CollegeDrinkingPrevention.gov/CollegeAIM 
www.CollegeDrinkingPrevention.gov/CollegeAIM 10

The CollegeAIM Tool 

and Strategy 

Summary Tables
INDIVIDUAL-LEVEL STRATEGIES: 

Estimated Relative Effectiveness, Costs, and Barriers; Public Health Reach; Research Amount; and Primary Modality 1

COSTS: Combined program and staff costs for adoption/implementation and maintenance

EFFECTIVENESS: Success in achieving targeted outcomes

Lower costs $ Mid-range costs $$ Higher costs $$$

Higher

effectiveness 

êêê

IND-3 Normative re-education: Electronic/mailed personalized

normative feedback (PNF)—Generic/other2

 

[##, B, •••, online/offsite]

IND-10 Skills training, alcohol focus: Self-monitoring/selfassessment alone 3

 [#, F, ••, online/offsite]

IND-21 Personalized feedback intervention (PFI): eCHECK UP 

TO GO (formerly, e-CHUG)2

 [#, B, •••, online]

IND-9 Skills training, alcohol focus: Goal/intention-setting alone 3

[##, F, ••, IPI]

IND-12 Skills training, alcohol plus general life skills:

Alcohol Skills Training Program (ASTP)2

 [#, F, •••, IPG] 

IND-16 Brief motivational intervention (BMI): In-person—

Individual (e.g., BASICS) [##, F, ••••, IPI]

IND-22 Personalized feedback intervention (PFI): Generic/other2

[##, B, ••••, online]

IND-17 Multi-component education-focused program (MCEFP): 

AlcoholEdu® for College2

 [#, B, ••, online] 

Moderate

effectiveness 

êê

IND-8 Skills training, alcohol focus: Expectancy challenge 

interventions (ECI)—Experiential [##, F, •••, IPG] 

IND-13 Skills training, alcohol plus general life skills—Parent-based

alcohol communication training [#, F, ••, offsite] 

IND-14 Skills training, alcohol plus general life skills or general

life skills only: Generic/other2

 [#, F, ••••, IPG]

IND-15 Brief motivational intervention (BMI): In-person—

Group [##, F, ••, IPG]

Lower

effectiveness 

ê

IND-2 Normative re-education: Electronic/mailed personalized

normative feedback (PNF) Event-specific prevention 

(21st birthday cards) [#, B, ••, online/offsite]

IND-4 Normative re-education: In-person norms clarification

alone 3

 [#, F, ••, IPG]

Not

effective 

X

IND-7 Skills training, alcohol focus: Expectancy challenge

intervention (ECI)—By proxy/didactic/discussion 

alone 3

 [#, F, ••, IPG]

IND-1 Information/knowledge/education alone 3

 [#, B, ••••, IPG]

IND-5 Values clarification alone 3

 [#, F, ••, IPG]

Too few 

studies to rate 

effectiveness 

IND-11 Skills training, alcohol plus general life skills: 

Alcohol 101 PlusTM2

 [#, B, •, online]

IND-19 Personalized feedback intervention (PFI): 

CheckYourDrinking (beta 1.0 version)2

 [#, B, •, online]

IND-20 Personalized feedback intervention (PFI): College

Drinker’s Check-up2

 [#, B, •, online]

IND-6 Skills training, alcohol focus: Blood alcohol concentration 

feedback alone 3

 [#, F, •, IPI]

IND-18 Multi-component education-focused programs (MCEFP): 

Miscellaneous2

 [#, B, •, online]

Effectiveness rating, 

based on percentage 

of studies reporting any 

positive effect: 

êêê = 75% or more

êê = 50% to 74%

ê = 25% to 49%

 X = Less than 25%

Barriers:

 ### = Higher

 ## = Moderate

 # = Lower

Public health reach:

B = Broad

F = Focused

Research amount:

•••• = 11+ studies 

 ••• = 7 to 10 studies

•• = 4 to 6 studies

• = 3 or fewer

studies

Primary modality:

IPI = In-person individual

IPG = In-person group

Online

Offsite

Legend

?

Strategies in which health care professionals identify and help 

students whose drinking patterns put them at risk for harm, or 

who are already experiencing alcohol-related problems:

IND-23 Screening and behavioral treatments 

IND-24 Medications for alcohol use disorder

These approaches can reduce harmful drinking, according 

to studies conducted mainly in general adult populations 

(ages 18–65). 

The differences in research populations, along with wide variations 

in costs and barriers across campuses, precluded ratings 

relative to other strategies. See page 18 for more information. 

Interventions Delivered by Health Care Professionals

 See brief descriptions and additional ratings for each individual-level strategy on the summary table beginning on page 13. 

1 Effectiveness ratings are based on the percentage of studies reporting any positive outcomes (see legend). Strategies with three or fewer studies were not rated for effectiveness due to the limited data on which to base a conclusion. 

Cost ratings are based on the relative program and staff costs for adoption, implementation, and maintenance of a strategy. Actual costs will vary by institution, depending on size, existing programs, and other campus and community

factors. Barriers to implementing a strategy include cost and opposition, among other factors. Public health reach refers to the number of students that a strategy affects. Strategies with a broad reach affect all students or a large

group of students (e.g., all underage students); strategies with a focused reach affect individuals or small groups of students (e.g., sanctioned students). Research amount refers to the number of randomized controlled trials (RCT)

of a strategy (see legend). 

2

 Strategies are listed by brand name (e.g., CheckYourDrinking) if they were evaluated by at least two RCTs; strategies labeled generic/other have similar components and were not identified by name in the research or were evaluated by only 

one RCT; strategies labeled miscellaneous have the same approach but very different components. 3

 Although this approach is a component of larger, effective programs such as BASICS and ASTP, it is evaluated here as a stand-alone intervention.

11 www.CollegeDrinkingPrevention.gov/CollegeAIM 
ENVIRONMENTAL-LEVEL STRATEGIES: 

Estimated Relative Effectiveness, Costs, and Barriers; Public Health Reach; and Research Amount/Quality1

COSTS: Combined program and staff costs for adoption/implementation and maintenance

mes

Lower costs $ Mid-range costs $$ Higher costs $$$

ENV-16 Restrict happy hours/price promotions [###, B, •••] ENV-11 Enforce age-21 drinking age (e.g., compliance checks) Higher [##, B, ••••] effectiveness ENV-21 Retain ban on Sunday sales (where applicable) [##, B, ••••]

êêê ENV-23 Increase alcohol tax [###, B, ••••] ENV-22 Retain age-21 drinking age [##, B, ••••]

ENV-17 Retain or enact restrictions on hours of alcohol sales ENV-3 Prohibit alcohol use/sales at campus sporting events ENV-31 Enact responsible beverage service training laws 

o

[##, B, ••••] [##, F, ••••] [##, B, •••]

tc

ENV-34 Enact social host provision laws [##, B, •••] ENV-25 Enact dram shop liability laws: Sales to intoxicated 

ou

Moderate [##, B, ••••]

d 

effectiveness ENV-26 Enact dram shop liability laws: Sales to underage 

te

êê [##, B, •••]

ge

ENV-30 Limit number/density of alcohol establishments [###, B, ••••]

ar

ENV-35 Retain state-run alcohol retail stores (where applicable) 

ving t

[###, B, ••••]

ENV-1 Establish an alcohol-free campus [###, B, •••] ENV-12 Restrict alcohol sponsorship and advertising [##, B, •••] 

e

ENV-7 Conduct campus-wide social norms campaign2

 ENV-14 Implement beverage service training programs: Sales to 

hi

Lower [#, B, ••••] intoxicated [C = #, S/L = ##, B, •••] 

ac

effectiveness ENV-15 Implement beverage service training programs: Sales to 

in 

ê underage [C = #, S/L = ##, B, ••••] 

: Success 

ENV-4 Prohibit alcohol use/service at campus social events [##, B, 0] ENV-6 

ENV-28 Enact keg registration laws [##, B, •••]

Implement bystander interventions2

 [#, F, 0] ENV-2 Require alcohol-free programming2 [#, F, ••] 

ENV-5 Establish amnesty policies2

 [#, F, •••] ENV-20 Implement safe-rides program2 [##, F, ••]

ENV-8 Require Friday morning classes2

 [#, B, ••] ENV-32 Conduct shoulder tap campaigns [##, B, ••]

SS

Too few ENV-9 Establish standards for alcohol service at campus social ENV-33 Enact social host property laws [##, B, 0]

robust studies events [#, B, •••] ENV-36 Require unique design for state ID cards for age < 21 

ENE

to rate ENV-10 Establish substance-free residence halls2

 [#, F, ••] [##, B, 0]

IV

effectiveness ENV-13 Prohibit beer kegs [C = #, S/L = ###, B, •••] 

—or mixed ENV-18 Establish minimum age requirements to serve/sell 

EFFECT

results alcohol [##, B, ••••]

ENV-19 Implement party patrols [##, B, •••] ?

ENV-24 Increase cost of alcohol license [##, B, 0] 

ENV-27 Prohibit home delivery of alcohol [##, B, ••]

ENV-29 Enact noisy assembly laws [##, B, 0]

 

Legend

www.CollegeDrinkingPrevention.gov/CollegeAIM 12

Barriers:

### = Higher

 ## = Moderate

 # = Lower

 C = Barriers at 

college level

 S/L = Barriers at the 

state/local level

Public health reach:

 B = Broad

 F = Focused

Research amount/quality:

•••• = 5 or more longitudinal studies

••• = 5 or more cross-sectional

studies or 1 to 4 

longitudinal studies

•• = 2 to 4 studies but no

longitudinal studies

• = 1 study that is not

longitudinal

 0 = No studies

See brief descriptions and additional ratings for each environmental-level strategy on the summary table beginning on page 19.

1 Effectiveness ratings are based on estimated success in achieving targeted outcomes.Cost ratings are based on a consensus among research team members of the 

relative program and staff costs for adoption, implementation, and maintenance of a strategy. Actual costs will vary by institution, depending on size, existing programs, 

and other campus and community factors. Barriers to implementing a strategy include cost and opposition, among other factors. Public health reach refers to the number 

of students that a strategy affects. Strategies with a broad reach affect all students or a large group of students (e.g., all underage students); strategies with a focused 

reach affect individuals or small groups of students (e.g., sanctioned students). Research amount/quality refers to the number and design of studies (see legend). 2

 Strategy does not seek to reduce alcohol availability, one of the most effective ways to decrease alcohol use and its consequences.
INDIVIDUAL-LEVEL STRATEGIES SUMMARY TABLE 

Individual-level strategies aim to produce changes in attitudes or behaviors related to alcohol use rather than the environments in which alcohol use occurs. Expected outcomes, in 

general, are that a strategy may decrease an individual’s alcohol use (e.g., frequency, quantity, or blood alcohol concentration) and/or alcohol-related risk-taking behaviors, thereby reducing 

harmful consequences. All studies used college students as the research population except the behavioral interventions by health professionals, which used a general population. Potential 

resources to help you implement many strategies rated effective by CollegeAIM can be found online (see URL below).

13 www.CollegeDrinkingPrevention.gov/CollegeAIM 

Matrix 

number Strategy Description

Effectiveness Cost Barriers

Research

amount

EDUCATION/AWARENESS PROGRAMS

IND-1 Information/knowledge/education alone Information/knowledge/education programs solely provide students with alcohol-related education (e.g., how alcohol is 

processed by the body, potential consequences of alcohol misuse), without any alcohol-specific skills training. 

• Staffing expertise needed: Coordinator

• Target population: Individuals, specific groups, or all students

• Primary modality: In-person group

• Duration of effects: No short- or long-term effects

X $$ # ••••

IND-2 Normative re-education: Electronic/

mailed personalized normative feedback 

(PNF)—Event-specific prevention 

(21st birthday cards)

Under this event-specific prevention PNF strategy, students receive a birthday card on their 21st birthday, warning them 

against excessive celebratory drinking. 

• Staffing expertise needed: Coordinator

• Target population: Individuals, specific groups, or all students

• Primary modality: Online/offsite

• Duration of effects: Mixed short-term (< 6 months) effects; long-term (≥ 6 months) effects not assessed

ê $ # ••

IND-3 Normative re-education: Electronic/

mailed personalized normative feedback 

(PNF)—Generic/other

See FAQs for more information on 

implementing a generic PNF strategy.

PNF programs provide all students with personalized information about their alcohol use in comparison with actual use by 

their peers. This information is represented graphically (with charts and text, showing personal behavior juxtaposed with 

normative information). Delivery of PNF interventions is done without the involvement of a facilitator, and students are allowed 

to consider this information on their own. 

• Staffing expertise needed: Coordinator

• Target population: Individuals, specific groups, or all students

• Primary modality: Online/offsite

• Duration of effects: Short-term effects (up to 5 months); long-term (≥ 6 months) effects not assessed

êêê $ ## •••

IND-4 Normative re-education: In-person norms 

clarification alone

Globally, normative re-education programs are designed to provide students with accurate information about peer alcohol use 

and consequences and to modify their attitudes about the acceptability of their excessive alcohol consumption to their peers 

and parents. Normative re-education programs can be delivered in-person (typically in group format) or remotely via the web 

or by mail as personalized graphic feedback.

• Staffing expertise needed: Coordinator

• Target population: Individuals, specific groups, or all students

• Primary modality: In-person group

• Duration of effects: Mixed short-term (< 6 months) effects; most studies did not assess long-term (≥ 6 months) effects

ê $$ # ••

Legend

Effectiveness: 

êêê = Higher, êê = Moderate, ê = Lower, 

X = Not effective, ? = Too few studies to rate 

effectiveness 

Cost: 

$$$ = Higher, $$ = Mid-range, $ = Lower 

Barriers: 

### = Higher 

 ## = Moderate 

 # = Lower 

 C = Barriers at college level 

Research amount:

•••• = 11+ studies 

 ••• = 7 to 10 studies 

•• = 4 to 6 studies

• = 3 or fewer studies

Staffing expertise:

Policy advocate = Advocacy or community organization; understanding 

of political strategy

Coordinator = Program development and management

Health professional = Specific expertise/training in delivering 

a health program
Matrix Strategy number Strategy Description ness

EDUCATION/AWARENESS PROGRAMS (CONT.)

IND-5 Values clarification alone Values clarification programs are designed to help students evaluate their values and goals and incorporate responsible X

Cost Cost

$$

Barriers ers

#

Research Re- amount search

•• decision-making about alcohol use into these values and goals. 

• Staffing expertise needed: Coordinator

• Target population: Individuals, specific groups, or all students

• Primary modality: In-person group

IND-6 Skills training, alco

alcohol concentration

• Duration of effects: No short- or long-term effects

COGNITIVE–BEHAVIORAL SKILLS-BASED APPROACHES

hol focus: Blood BAC feedback programs involve presenting students with their actual BAC, usually based on breath samples, during or ?

 (BAC) feedback alone following an evening of drinking. These programs challenge students’ perceptions of their level of 

$$ # •

intoxication based on an objective BAC measurement or provide an incentive for students to limit their alcohol 

consumption (e.g., remaining under a certain BAC at a social event). 

• Staffing expertise needed: Coordinator

• Target population: Individuals, specific groups

• Primary modality: In-person individual

• Duration of effects: Mixed short-term (< 6 months) effects; long-term (≥ 6 months) effects not assessed

IND-7 Skills training, alcohol focus: Expectancy ECIs target positive beliefs about the outcomes of alcohol use, highlighting through education or direct experience how many X

challenge intervention (ECI)— By proxy/ behaviors associated with alcohol use are driven by cognitions rather than pharmacology. Education on alcohol placebo 

$ # ••

didactic/discussion alone effects is provided during in-person discussion or lecture or via video as a means of challenging students’ positive beliefs 

about the outcomes of alcohol use. 

• Staffing expertise needed: Coordinator

• Target population: Individuals, underage, specific groups, or all students

• Primary modality: In-person group

• Duration of effects: No short- or long-term effects

IND-8 Skills training, alcohol focus: Expectancy Experiential ECIs assign students to receive alcohol or a placebo, facilitate interaction in a social environment, and then êê

challenge intervention (ECI)—Experiential ask students to guess who has or has not imbibed alcohol as a means of challenging students’ positive beliefs about the 

$$ ## •••

outcomes of alcohol use. Education on alcohol placebo effects is also provided.

• Staffing expertise needed: Coordinator

• Target population: Individuals or specific groups

• Primary modality: In-person group

• Duration of effects: Short-term (< 6 months) and long-term (≥ 6 months) effects

IND-9 Skills training, alcohol focus: Goal/ Under this approach, students identified as having alcohol use problems set goals for limiting their alcohol use, based on their êêê $$ ## •• intention-setting alone current drinking behaviors, other goals, and values. 

• Staffing expertise needed: Health professional and coordinator 

• Target population: Individuals, specific groups

• Primary modality: In-person individual

• Duration of effects: Short-term (< 6 months) but not long-term (≥ 6 months) effects

www.CollegeDrinkingPrevention.gov/CollegeAIM 14

Effective-
Matrix Strategy number Strategy Description ness

COGNITIVE–BEHAVIORAL SKILLS-BASED APPROACHES (CONT.)

IND-10 Skills training, alcohol focus: Self-monitoring/self-assessment approaches involve repeated assessment (e.g., daily diary, multiple longitudinal assessment êêê

Cost Cost

$

Barriers ers

#

Research Re- amount search

•• Self-monitoring/self-assessment alone spread out over weeks, months, or years) without any other intervention.

• Staffing expertise needed: Coordinator

• Target population: Individuals, specific groups, or all students

• Primary modality: Online/offsite

• Duration of effects: Short-term (< 6 months) and long-term (≥ 6 months) effects 

IND-11 Skills training, alcohol plus general Alcohol 101 PlusTM is a web-based modification of the earlier CD-ROM-based Alcohol 101 program. It provides alcohol ?

life skills: Alcohol 101 PlusTM education and skills training using a “virtual campus,” modeling potential drinking situations and discussing possible 

$ # •

consequences and alternatives. Personalized blood alcohol concentration (BAC) calculations also are provided. The program 

is free to all students and educators. 

• Staffing expertise needed: Coordinator

• Target population: Individuals, specific groups, or all students

• Primary modality: Online

• Duration of effects: Mixed short-term (up to 1 month) effects; no long-term (≥ 6 months) effects

IND-12 Skills training, alcohol plus general ASTP is a multicomponent alcohol skills training program for students at risk of developing alcohol use problems. The program êêê $$ # ••• life skills: Alcohol Skills Training Program provides information about addiction and offers exercises and training to help students identify personal drinking cues, 

(ASTP) develop alcohol refusal skills, and manage stress. ASTP consists of eight 90-minute sessions; however, programs conducted 

in as few as two sessions have been evaluated.

• Staffing expertise needed: Health professional and coordinator

• Target population: Individuals or specific groups

• Primary modality: In-person group

• Duration of effects: Short-term (< 6 months) and long-term (up to 1 year) effects

IND-13 Skills training, alcohol plus general life Parent-based alcohol communication training is a campus-sponsored program for parents of students, particularly êê $$ # •• skills: Parent-based alcohol communication incoming freshmen, to train parents to effectively talk with their children about alcohol use, avoidance, and consequences.

training • Staffing expertise needed: Coordinator

• Target population: Individuals, underage, specific groups, or all students

• Primary modality: Offsite

• Duration of effects: Short-term (< 6 months) and long-term (≥ 6 months) effects

IND-14 Skills training, alcohol plus general life These programs combine training in skills aimed at reducing alcohol use (e.g., drink refusal and moderation of alcohol êê $$ # •••• skills or general life skills only: use) with training in general life skills (e.g., stress management, coping, and lifestyle balance), or they provide training 

Generic/other only in general life skills as a means of reducing alcohol use. 

• Staffing expertise needed: Coordinator

• Target population: Individuals, specific groups

• Primary modality: In-person group

• Duration of effects: Short-term (< 6 months) and long-term (up to 1 year) effects 

15 www.CollegeDrinkingPrevention.gov/CollegeAIM 

Effective-
Matrix Strategy number Strategy Description

MOTIVATIONAL/FEEDBACK-BASED APPROACHES

IND-15 Brief motivational intervention (BMI): In-person group BMI combines a brief intervention with motivational interviewing in a group (rather than in a oneIn-person—Group on-one setting). BMI emphasizes personal responsibility and self-efficacy of participants, offering them personalized 

ness

êê

Cost

$$

Barriers ers

##

Research 

amount search

••

feedback on their alcohol use, risks, expectancies, perceptions of social norms, and options for reducing problems and 

consequences. A trained facilitator guides the group discussion. Goals for behavioral change are set by participants. 

• Staffing expertise needed: Health professional and coordinator

• Target population: Individuals or specific groups

• Primary modality: In-person group

• Duration of effects: Short-term (< 6 months) and long-term (≥ 6 months) effects 

IND-16 Brief motivational intervention (BMI): BMI combines a brief intervention with motivational interviewing. BMI emphasizes personal responsibility and self-efficacy of êêê $$ ## •••• In-person—Individual participants, offering them personalized feedback on their alcohol use, risks, expectancies, perceptions of social norms, and 

options for reducing problems and consequences. Discussions are guided by a trained facilitator. Goals for behavioral change 

are set by participants. 

One such BMI, which is the model after which most BMIs are patterned, is the Brief Alcohol Screening and Intervention for 

College Students (BASICS). BASICS involves initial screening to identify high-risk drinkers, subsequent baseline assessment 

to generate personalized feedback, and then a one-on-one meeting with the trained facilitator to review the feedback. In the 

original studies of BASICS, baseline assessment was completed in-person; participants were asked to self-monitor drinking for

2 weeks, then return for a second session to review their personalized feedback. More recent research has eliminated the first 

in-person meeting, opting instead to complete baseline assessment via the web.

• Staffing expertise needed: Health professional and coordinator

• Target population: Individuals or specific groups

• Primary modality: In-person individual

• Duration of effects: Short-term (< 6 months) and long-term (up to 4 years) effects

IND-17 Multi-component education-focused AlcoholEdu® for College is a two-part, online program providing personalized feedback along with education around alcohol 

program (MCEFP): AlcoholEdu® for College use. The first part of the program is typically completed in the summer before freshmen arrive on campus, with the second 

êêê $$$ # ••

part being completed during the fall. Students must complete knowledge-based quizzes in order to complete the course. Cost 

of the program is based on first-year enrollment size. This program also may target individuals and all students.

• Staffing expertise needed: Coordinator

• Target population: Individuals, specific groups, or all students

• Primary modality: Online

• Duration of effects: Short-term (up to 3 months) effects; long-term (≥ 6 months) effects not assessed

IND-18 Multi-component education-focused MCEFP approaches target alcohol misuse by teaching students an array of alcohol-related skills (e.g., drink refusal, monitoring 

programs (MCEFP): Miscellaneous alcohol use, spacing drinks, advanced planning) and providing associated education to support skill use. Programs in this 

? $$ # •

category not identified by name are highly variable in content and have not been sufficiently studied to draw strong 

conclusions about any individual program. 

• Staffing expertise needed: Coordinator

• Target population: Individual, specific groups, or all students

• Primary modality: Online

• Duration of effects: No short-term (< 6 months) effects; most programs not assessed for long-term (≥ 6 months) effects

www.CollegeDrinkingPrevention.gov/CollegeAIM 16

Effective-
Matrix Strategy number Strategy Description ness

MOTIVATIONAL/FEEDBACK-BASED APPROACHES (CONT.)

IND-19 Personalized feedback intervention CheckYourDrinking is a web-based 18-question survey on personal drinking habits that provides survey takers with ?

(PFI): CheckYourDrinking (beta 1.0 version) individualized feedback on their risk of alcohol-related diseases. Users can email results to themselves or their health care 

Cost Cost

$

Barri- Barriers ers

#

Research Re- amount search

•

professional. The program is free.

• Staffing expertise needed: Coordinator

• Target population: Individuals, specific groups, or all students

• Primary modality: Online

• Duration of effects: Short-term (< 6 months) effects; long-term (≥ 6 months) effects not assessed

IND-20 Personalized feedback intervention (PFI): College Drinker’s Check-up is a single-session, web-based program for students who drink heavily and is an adaptation ?

College Drinker’s Check-up of the well-established in-person Drinker’s Check-Up, originally developed for heavy-drinking adults. Students receive 

$ # •

personalized feedback on the quantity and frequency of their alcohol use in comparison with same-gender college 

peers. Students also receive blood alcohol content feedback. College Drinker’s Check-up is a commercial product. 

Campuses pay a one-time cost based on size: $2,500 for smaller institutions (<15,000 students) and $4,500 for 

larger institutions. 

• Staffing expertise needed: Coordinator

• Target population: Individuals or specific groups

• Primary modality: Online

• Duration of effects: Short-term (< 6 months) and long-term (up to 1 year) effects

IND-21 Personalized feedback intervention (PFI): Alcohol eCHECKUP TO GO is a web-based survey that provides students with personalized feedback about their drinking êêê $ # ••• eCHECKUP TO GO (formerly, e-CHUG) patterns and how their alcohol use might affect their health and personal goals. The program has a special focus on two 

high-risk groups: first-year students and athletes. eCHECKUP TO GO is a commercial program. Campuses pay an annual 

subscription fee of about $1,000 for unlimited use of a customized program. 

• Staffing expertise needed: Coordinator

• Target population: Individuals or specific groups

• Primary modality: Online

• Duration of effects: Short-term (< 6 months) and long-term (up to 1 year) effects

IND-22 Personalized feedback intervention (PFI): PFI programs use a web-based assessment to generate graphic personalized feedback about students’ alcohol use, risks, êêê $$ ## •••• Generic/other expectancies, perceptions of social norms, and drinking motives. Feedback is delivered electronically or by mail and is not 

discussed with a trained facilitator. 

• Staffing expertise needed: Coordinator See FAQs for more information on • Target population: Individuals, underage, specific groups, or all students implementing a generic PFI strategy. • Primary modality: Online

• Duration of effects: Short-term (< 6 months) and long-term (up to 1 year) effects

17 www.CollegeDrinkingPrevention.gov/CollegeAIM 

Effective-
INTERVENTIONS DELIVERED BY HEALTH CARE PROFESSIONALS

The approaches listed below, which are delivered by health care professionals, can reduce harmful drinking, according to studies conducted mainly in general adult populations (ages 18–65). These strategies are 

not rated relative to other individual-level strategies in CollegeAIM because of differences in research populations, along with wide variations in costs and barriers to providing these services across campuses. 

These interventions are important for students whose drinking patterns put them at risk for harm, or who are already experiencing alcohol-related problems. Health care professionals in your campus health and 

counseling centers can help identify and assist these students, or residence hall or security staff members may bring students with alcohol-related conduct violations to your attention. 

For resources to support you in providing these and other interventions, or referrals when needed, see the CollegeAIM URL below. 

IND-23 Interventions delivered by health care Screening and brief intervention: The U.S. Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF) recommends that primary care clinicians (1) conduct alcohol screening in adults ages 18 

professionals: Screening and behavioral years or older and (2) provide brief behavioral counseling interventions for the full range of unhealthy drinking behaviors, from risky drinking to alcohol dependence. The USPSTF 

treatments concludes that brief behavioral counseling interventions reduce heavy drinking episodes and increase adherence to recommended drinking limits. 

Additional behavioral treatments: For some students, brief counseling sessions may not be sufficient for resolving drinking problems. In these cases, more intensive 

behavioral treatments can be beneficial, including cognitive-behavioral therapy and motivational enhancement therapy. Ultimately, choosing to get treatment 

may be more important than the approach used, provided it avoids heavy confrontation and incorporates empathy, motivational support, and a focus on changing 

drinking behavior.

IND-24 Interventions delivered by health care Medications for alcohol use disorder: Three medications have been approved by the Food and Drug Administration to help people cut back or stop drinking and avoid 

professionals: Medications for alcohol relapse: naltrexone (in two forms, oral and extended-release injection), acamprosate, and disulfiram. They are not addictive, and can be used alone, but often are used in 

use disorder combination with counseling. 

www.CollegeDrinkingPrevention.gov/CollegeAIM 18
ENV-3 Prohibit alcohol use/sales at campus 

sporting events

Under this strategy, a campus bans the sale and consumption of alcohol at sporting events. 

• Staffing expertise required: Policy advocate

• Target population: All students

• Research population: College

êê $$

ENV-4 Prohibit alcohol use/service at campus 

social events

Under this strategy, a campus bans the sale and consumption of alcoholic beverages at social events held on 

campus property. 

• Staffing expertise required: Policy advocate

• Target population: All students

• Research population: Not assessed

?

ENV-5 Establish amnesty policies Under an amnesty policy, a campus does not impose sanctions on a student who seeks help for another student in danger 

of serious harm or death from alcohol use, even if the help seeker has been drinking underage or has provided the alcohol 

to an underage peer. Amnesty policies also may be known as medical amnesty or Good Samaritan policies, and some 

exist at the state level.

• Staffing expertise required: Policy advocate

?

ENV-1 Establish an alcohol-free campus Under this strategy, a campus bans the sale, distribution, or consumption of alcohol on campus property. 

• Staffing expertise required: Policy advocate

• Target population: All students

• Research population: College

ê $$ ### •••

ENV-2 Require alcohol-free programming Under this strategy, a campus hosts alcohol-free events to provide students with social alternatives to parties and bars 

where alcohol is being served. 

• Staffing expertise required: Coordinator

• Target population: All students

• Research population: College

? $$$ # ••

ENVIRONMENTAL-LEVEL STRATEGIES SUMMARY TABLE

Environmental-level strategies aim to change the alcohol use environment in the campus, community, or both, and thus can affect the student body as a whole or in large subgroups such as those 

under age 21. Most of the environmental-level strategies in this guide seek to reduce alcohol availability, one of the most effective ways to decrease alcohol use and related problems. A few strategies listed 

below try to reduce alcohol-related harm directly without restricting availability, and are included because colleges commonly use them. This guide isolated these strategies for assessment, and some may not be 

effective if used alone. Still, they may be useful parts of a multi-strategy effort. Potential resources to help you implement many strategies rated effective by CollegeAIM can be found online (see URL below). 

19 www.CollegeDrinkingPrevention.gov/CollegeAIM 

CAMPUS ONLY

## ••••

$ ## 0

• Target population: All students

• Research population: College

$ # •••

Effectiveness

Research 

amount/ Strategy Cost Barriers quality

Matrix 

number Description Legend

Effectiveness: 

êêê = Higher, êê = Moderate, ê = Lower, 

? = Too few robust studies to rate effectiveness 

—or mixed results 

Cost: 

$$$ = Higher 

 $$ = Mid-range 

 $ = Lower

Barriers: 

### = Higher 

## = Moderate 

# = Lower 

 C = Barriers at college level 

 S/L = Barriers at 

state/local level

Research amount/quality:

•••• = 5 or more longitudinal studies

••• = 5 or more cross-sectional

studies or 1 to 4 

longitudinal studies

•• = 2 to 4 studies but no

longitudinal studies

• = 1 study that is not longitudinal

0 = No studies

Staffing expertise:

Policy advocate = Advocacy or community organizing; 

understanding of political strategy

Coordinator = Program development and management

Health professional = Specific expertise/training in 

delivering a health program
Strategy Cost Barriers

Research 

CAMPUS ONLY (CONT.)

ENV-6 Implement bystander interventions In this context, bystander intervention programs offered by campuses are designed to increase a student’s capacity and 

willingness to intervene when another student may be in danger of harming him/herself or another person due to alcohol use.

Bystander intervention programs also are used to reduce consequences of drug use, sexual assault, and other problems.

• Staffing expertise required: Coordinator

• Target population: All students

• Research population: Not assessed

? $$ # 0

ENV-7 Conduct campus-wide social norms

campaign

Under this strategy, a campus conducts a campus-wide awareness campaign that informs students about actual quantity 

and frequency of alcohol use among their fellow students, with the intent of changing their perception of what is normal or 

acceptable. 

• Staffing expertise required: Coordinator

• Target population: All students

• Research population: College

ê $$ # ••••

ENV-8 Require Friday morning classes Under this strategy, a campus requires classes on Friday mornings to discourage excessive alcohol use by students on 

Thursday evenings. 

• Staffing expertise required: Coordinator

• Target population: All students

• Research population: College

? $ # ••

ENV-9 Establish standards for alcohol service 

at campus social events

Under this strategy, a campus establishes policies that set certain constraints on alcohol sales, such as a limited number 

of alcoholic beverages per person, availability of food and non-alcoholic beverages, no self-service, and required beverage 

service training.

• Staffing expertise required: Policy advocate

• Target population: All students

• Research population: College

? $ # •••

ENV-10 Establish substance-free residence halls Under this strategy, a campus bans the possession and consumption of all substances within its residence halls. 

• Staffing expertise required: Policy advocate

• Target population: All students

• Research population: College

? $ # ••

CAMPUS OR COMMUNITY-BASED

ENV-11 Enforce age-21 drinking age 

(e.g., compliance checks)

Under this strategy, campuses and local and state government support and implement strong enforcement of the 

existing age-21 minimum legal drinking age. (Compliance checks are an approach regulated at the local or state level whereby 

undercover youth, supervised by law enforcement or licensing authorities, attempt to purchase alcohol. When a 

violation occurs, a penalty is applied to the server and/or the license holder, depending on local or state law.)

• Staffing expertise required: Policy advocate

• Target population: Underage

• Research population: General

êêê $$ ## ••••

ENV-12 Restrict alcohol sponsorship 

and advertising

Under this strategy, a campus or local or state government establishes policies that restrict or prohibit alcohol sponsorship 

and/or advertising of alcoholic beverages, particularly where such sponsorship or advertising exposes young people to 

alcohol messages, such as on college campuses, at rock concerts, or at athletic events. 

• Staffing expertise required: Policy advocate

• Target population: All students

• Research population: General

ê $$$ ## •••

Strategy ness Cost Barriers

Matrix 

number

Research 

amount/

Description quality

www.CollegeDrinkingPrevention.gov/CollegeAIM 20

Effective-
Matrix Strategy number Strategy Description ness

CAMPUS OR COMMUNITY-BASED (CONT.)

ENV-13 Prohibit beer kegs A ban on beer kegs is an approach taken by a campus or local or state government in an effort to decrease the amount of ?

alcohol at parties. Campus bans may apply to specific settings, such as athletic events or tailgate parties. 

Cost Cost

$

Barri- Barriers ers

C = #,

S/L = ###

quality search

•••

• Staffing expertise required: Policy advocate

• Target population: All students

• Research population: College 

ENV-14 Implement beverage service training This type of program can be implemented at the campus, community, or state level to require training of those who sell ê $$$ C = #, ••• programs: Sales to intoxicated or serve alcohol to recognize signs of intoxication, slow the service of alcohol, and cut off individuals who are obviously 

intoxicated. Note: Rating based on studies of programs in a few establishments. 

S/L = ##

• Staffing expertise required: Coordinator

• Target population: All students

• Research population: General 

ENV-15 Implement beverage service training This type of program can be implemented at the campus, community, or state level to require training of those who sell or ê $$$ C = #, •••• programs: Sales to underage serve alcohol to verify the age of young customers, recognize false identification documents, and refuse sales to those under 

the legal drinking age. Note: Rating based on studies of programs in a few establishments.

S/L = ##

• Staffing expertise required: Coordinator

• Target population: Underage students

• Research population: General 

ENV-16 Restrict happy hours/price promotions Under this strategy, a campus or local or state government prohibits or restricts drink specials, such as the sale of two êêê $ ### ••• alcoholic beverages for the price of one, that encourage customers to drink more than they might otherwise. 

• Staffing expertise required: Policy advocate

• Target population: All students

• Research population: College, general 

ENV-17 Retain or enact restrictions on Under this strategy, campuses or local and state governments retain or enact policies limiting the hours during which alcohol êê $ ## •••• hours of alcohol sales may be sold legally.

• Staffing expertise required: Policy advocate

• Target population: All students

• Research population: General 

ENV-18 Establish minimum age Under this strategy, a campus or local or state government establishes requirements specifying how old someone must be to ? $ ## •••• requirements to serve/sell alcohol serve or sell alcohol. Requirements may differ by type of alcohol establishment (e.g., off- vs. on-premise establishments and 

type of alcohol—beer, wine, or spirits) and may include exceptions under certain circumstances. 

• Staffing expertise required: Policy advocate

• Target population: All students

• Research population: General 

ENV-19 Implement party patrols Party patrols are a community-based approach in which campus or local teams, made up of police and sometimes ?

volunteers, visit locations where there have been reports and complaints about noisy party activity or visit addresses 

$ ## •••

associated with keg registrations to determine whether underage drinking is taking place. If illegal activity is occurring, the 

police cite any adults who appear to have facilitated underage drinking and cite those drinking underage. 

• Staffing expertise required: Policy advocate

• Target population: Underage students

• Research population: College 

21 www.CollegeDrinkingPrevention.gov/CollegeAIM 

Effective- Re- amount/

Research 
quality search

Re Research - Matrix amount/ Strategy number Strategy Description ness

CAMPUS OR COMMUNITY-BASED (CONT.)

ENV-20 Implement safe-rides program Safe-rides programs are conducted by a campus or the local community to provide free or low-cost transportation, such as ?

taxis or van shuttles, from popular drinking venues or events to residences or other safe destinations.

Cost Cost

$$$

Barriers ers

## ••

• Staffing expertise required: Coordinator

• Target population: All students

• Research population: General 

ENV-21 Retain ban on Sunday sales Under this strategy, campuses and local and state governments support existing bans on Sunday sales of alcohol for offsite êêê $ ## •••• (where applicable) consumption. (No state bans such sales for onsite consumption.)

• Staffing expertise required: Policy advocate

• Target population: All students

• Research population: General 

COMMUNITY-BASED ONLY

ENV-22 Retain age-21 drinking age All states, the District of Columbia, and Guam currently prohibit anyone under age 21 from possessing alcoholic êêê

beverages; most states also prohibit those under age 21 from purchasing and consuming alcoholic beverages. Under 

$ ## ••••

this strategy, campuses and local and state governments support continuation of the age-21 minimum legal drinking 

age due to its effectiveness in reducing underage drinking consequences. 

• Staffing expertise required: Policy advocate

• Target population: Underage students

• Research population: General

ENV-23 Increase alcohol tax Under this strategy, a state or local government increases the tax on the sale of alcohol, thereby raising the cost of alcohol êêê $$ ### •••• consumption and the affordability of excessive drinking. 

• Staffing expertise required: Policy advocate

• Target population: All students

• Research population: College, general

ENV-24 Increase cost of alcohol license Under this strategy, a state or local government increases the cost of an alcohol license, thereby increasing the cost of ? $ ## 0

operating an alcohol establishment and potentially increasing the price of alcohol and reducing the density of alcohol 

establishments in a given area. 

• Staffing expertise required: Policy advocate

• Target population: All students

• Research population: Not assessed

ENV-25 Enact dram shop liability laws: Sales This type of dram shop liability law is enacted at the state level to hold the owner or server(s) at a bar, restaurant, or êê

to intoxicated other location responsible for damages caused by an intoxicated person who was overserved alcohol at that location. 

$$ ## ••••

Liability can be established by case law or statute. 

• Staffing expertise required: Policy advocate

• Target population: All students

• Research population: General

ENV-26 Enact dram shop liability laws: Sales This type of dram shop liability law is enacted at the state level to hold the owner or server(s) at a bar, restaurant, or other êê $$ ## ••• to underage location responsible for damages caused by an underage drinker who was sold alcohol at that location.

• Staffing expertise required: Policy advocate

• Target population: Underage students

• Research population: General 

www.CollegeDrinkingPrevention.gov/CollegeAIM 22

Effective-
Matrix Strategy number Strategy Description ness

COMMUNITY-BASED ONLY (CONT.)

ENV-27 Prohibit home delivery of alcohol Under this strategy, local or state governments prohibit home delivery of alcohol, either by local establishments or over the ?

Internet, with the intent of preventing underage alcohol sales. 

Cost Cost

$

Barri- Barriers ers

##

quality search

••

• Staffing expertise required: Policy advocate

• Target population: Underage

• Research population: Not available

ENV-28 Enact keg registration laws Keg registration laws, enacted at the local or state level, require alcohol retailers to place a unique identifier on a keg and ê $$$ ## ••• record the purchaser’s name and address at the time of sale. Keg registration enables law enforcement agents to identify and 

hold responsible the adult who provided the alcohol, should underage drinking occur. 

• Staffing expertise required: Policy advocate

• Target population: Underage

• Research population: General

ENV-29 Enact noisy assembly laws Noisy assembly laws, enacted at the local or state level, give law enforcement legal cause to enter a private residence if a ?

gathering of more than one person in a residential area or building produces noise that unreasonably disturbs the peace, 

$ ## 0

quiet, or repose of another. Such laws also enable law enforcement to enter residences where they have reason to suspect 

underage drinking is occurring.

• Staffing expertise required: Policy advocate

• Target population: All students

• Research population: Not assessed

ENV-30 Limit number/density of alcohol Under this strategy, local or state governments enact regulations that reduce the number of alcohol establishments or limit êê $$ ### •••• establishments the number that may be established in a community or area, often through licensing or zoning laws. 

• Staffing expertise required: Policy advocate

• Target population: All students

• Research population: College, general

ENV-31 Enact responsible beverage service Responsible beverage service training laws, enacted at the local or state level, mandate that all or some servers, êê $$$ ## ••• training laws managers, and/or license holders at alcohol establishments receive formal training on how to responsibly serve 

alcohol. Training includes ways to recognize signs of intoxication, methods for checking age identification, and 

intervention techniques. Note: Rating based on research on the effect of a statewide law.

• Staffing expertise required: Policy advocate

• Target population: All students

• Research population: General

ENV-32 Conduct shoulder tap campaigns Shoulder tap campaigns are a method used to enforce minimum legal drinking age laws whereby undercover youth, ? $$$ ## •• supervised by local law enforcement, approach adults outside alcohol establishments and ask them to purchase alcohol on 

their behalf. When a violation occurs, law enforcement issues warnings or citations to the adult.

• Staffing expertise required: Policy advocate

• Target population: Underage students

• Research population: College, general

23 www.CollegeDrinkingPrevention.gov/CollegeAIM 

EffectiveResearch Re- amount/
Matrix Strategy number Strategy Description ness

COMMUNITY-BASED ONLY (CONT.)

ENV-33 Enact social host property laws Social host property laws are enacted by local or state governments to hold accountable adults who permit underage ?

drinking to occur on property they control. The primary purpose of social host property laws is to deter underage 

Cost Cost

$$$

Barri- Barriers ers

##

quality search

0

drinking parties. 

• Staffing expertise required: Policy advocate

• Target population: Underage students

• Research population: Not assessed

ENV-34 Enact social host provision laws Social host provision laws are enacted by local or state governments to hold accountable adults who supply alcohol to êê $ ## ••• those under age 21. 

• Staffing expertise required: Policy advocate

• Target population: Underage students

• Research population: College, general

ENV-35 Retain state-run alcohol retail stores Under this strategy, campuses and local and state governments support existing state control systems for wholesale and êê $$ ### •••• (where applicable) off-premises retail distribution whereby a state sets the prices of alcohol and gains profit/revenue directly rather than 

solely from taxation. Retention of the state system may reduce alcohol outlet density and pricing competition among 

commercial distributors.

• Staffing expertise required: Policy advocate

• Target population: All students

• Research population: General 

ENV-36 Require unique design for state ID cards Under this strategy, states adopt a unique design for identification cards (e.g., vertical instead of horizontal state driver ? $$$ ## 0

for age < 21 licenses) for those under age 21 so that age of the card holder is easier to identify. 

• Staffing expertise required: Policy advocate

• Target population: Underage students

• Research population: Not assessed

www.CollegeDrinkingPrevention.gov/CollegeAIM 24

Effective- Re- amount/

Research 

Appendix A: 

Strategy Planning 

Worksheet

www.CollegeDrinkingPrevention.gov/CollegeAIM 26
CURRENT STRATEGIES

Strategy Name

(and the IND or ENV identifier 

from CollegeAIM, if applicable) 

Individual or 

Environmental? CollegeAIM Ratings Notes and Next Steps: Keep as is? Modify to boost effectiveness? 

Add complementary strategies? Shift to more effective options?

aIND aENV Effectiveness Cost Barriers Reach: Broad or 

Focused (% of 

students)

POSSIBLE NEW STRATEGIES

Strategy Name

(and the IND or ENV identifier 

from CollegeAIM) 

Individual or 

Environmental? CollegeAIM Ratings Notes and Next Steps: Staff training or hiring needed? Other resources? Does the 

strategy require a plan for conducting an outcome evaluation? 

aIND aENV Effectiveness Cost Barriers Reach: Broad or 

Focused (% of 

students)

STRATEGY PLANNING WORKSHEET

Use this worksheet or download a copy to capture your thoughts about your current strategies and new ones you’d like to explore. Keep in mind: 

Priorities: Which alcohol-related issues are of most concern to your campus? Make sure your school’s needs and goals are well defined, and keep them front and center as you fill in the worksheet. 

Effectiveness: Does research show that your current strategies are effective in addressing your priority issues? Might others be more effective? 

Balance: Realistically assess what you can do with your available resources. Strike a balance, if possible, between individual- and environmental-level strategies, and between strategies that will face 

few barriers and can be put in place quickly and others that may take longer to implement. Consider the financial cost relative to the program’s expected effectiveness and the approximate percentage 

of the student body that the strategy will reach.

27 www.CollegeDrinkingPrevention.gov/CollegeAIM 
www.CollegeDrinkingPrevention.gov/CollegeAIM 28

About monitoring campus alcohol problems

• How do you recommend monitoring the extent of campus alcohol 

problems and the effects of our intervention efforts? 

About selecting and implementing strategies

General questions about selecting strategies

• 

• 

Why does CollegeAIM recommend both individual-level and 

environmental-level strategies? 

At times, we hear about campuses trying out interesting strategies 

that CollegeAIM doesn’t identify, or that have too few studies to rate 

effectiveness. Should we follow suit?

About specific individual-level strategies

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

How do we choose strategies to target specific subgroups 

such as first-year students, student athletes, members of Greek 

organizations, and mandated students? 

Many of our incoming freshmen students arrive on campus with 

established drinking habits. How can we address this issue?

How can we assess the potential effectiveness of commercial 

products before we invest our limited resources in them?

Personalized feedback interventions (PFIs) and personalized normative 

feedback (PNF) are among the more effective individual-level strategies 

in CollegeAIM. What are PFI and PNF? Some of these are listed as 

“generic” strategies—what does “generic” mean? Where can we learn 

to implement a generic strategy?

We are planning to conduct routine alcohol screenings and 

interventions through our health and counseling centers. Which 

screening tools should we use? Where can we find resources to 

train staff to deliver screenings and interventions with fidelity?

About specific environmental-level strategies

• 

• 

Where can we find models of campus-community collaboration 

that have been effective in reducing student alcohol use and related 

consequences?

Most alcohol-related deaths among college students nationwide 

result from driving under the influence. What can alcohol and other 

drug program staff, working with campus leadership, do about this? 

About responding to potential objections or challenges

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

How do I respond to people who say “College drinking has been 

around forever and students are always going to drink, so why bother?”

Some people continue to wonder if campus officials could better 

manage student drinking if the minimum legal drinking age were 

reduced to age 18. What does the research say? 

How do I respond to comments that efforts to reduce alcohol-related 

problems on our campus may just shift them to off-campus locations?

Campus revenue is declining. How can we build a case for investing 

in prevention?

What can we accomplish with a limited budget?

We’ve tried prevention strategies in the past and were not 

successful—how can we stay motivated?

About CollegeAIM and ongoing research 

• 

• 

How did the research teams arrive at ratings for the various strategies? 

What are some ways to keep up with the research literature on 

college alcohol interventions?

Appendix B: Frequently 

Asked Questions

Visit the CollegeAIM website (see URL below) for answers to these questions.
29 www.CollegeDrinkingPrevention.gov/CollegeAIM

Federal Websites and Resources Supporting the Prevention 

of Underage and High-Risk Drinking by College Students

National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA) (www.niaaa.nih.gov)

College Drinking: Changing the Culture is a central location for 

information related to alcohol use by college students. Resources on 

this site include:

• 

• 

College Alcohol Policies, by Campus

Supporting Research

Alcohol Policy Information System provides detailed information on 

alcohol-related policies in the United States at both state and federal levels. 

Detailed state-by-state information is available for more than 30 policies. 

Safer Campuses and Communities website is based on an NIAAAfunded study that examined a variety of environmental-level strategies 

that could be implemented on campuses and in their surrounding 

communities. A free toolkit for implementing the collaborative model is 

available online. 

Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (www.samhsa.gov)

National Registry of Evidence-based Programs and Practices

provides analyses, costs, and contact information for several individual- and 

environmental-level strategies to reduce alcohol use by college students.

Center for the Application of Prevention Technologies is a national 

substance abuse prevention training and technical assistance site. 

Resources on the site include:

• 

• 

Evaluation tools and resources from federal and nonfederal sources

Strategic Prevention Framework, a five-step planning process that 

guides the selection, implementation, and evaluation of evidencebased, culturally appropriate, sustainable prevention activities 

Report to Congress on the Prevention and Reduction of Underage 

Drinking (2013) includes policy summaries and state summaries 

identifying current legislative and other ongoing efforts. This report is 

compiled by the Interagency Coordinating Committee on the Prevention of 

Underage Drinking and is available through www.StopAlcoholAbuse.gov

and the SAMHSA Store.

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) (www.cdc.gov) 

The Guide to Community Preventive Services is a resource for 

evidence-based recommendations from the Community Preventive 

Services Task Force about what works to improve public health.

U.S. Department of Education (www.ed.gov)

National Center on Safe Supportive Learning Environments

offers training, technical assistance activities, and resources to support 

assessment, capacity building, strategic planning, implementation, and 

evaluation. Resources on this site include:

• 

• 

• 

Using a Public Health and Quality Improvement Approach to Address 

High-Risk Drinking with 32 Colleges and Universities (2014)

College Alcohol Risk Assessment Guide: Environmental Approaches 

to Prevention (2009)

Methods for Assessing College Student Use of Alcohol and 

Other Drugs (2008)

U.S. Department of Justice (www.justice.gov)

Underage Drinking Enforcement Training Center provides federal 

and non-federal resources, such as: 

• 

• 

• 

• 

College e-kit web section

Preventing Binge Drinking on College Campuses: A Guide to 

Best Practices (2012)

Promising Practices: Campus Alcohol Strategies (includes an Alcohol 

Task Force Action Planner)

Party Patrols: Best Practice Guidelines for College Communities (2010) 

Appendix C: 

Supporting Resources
www.CollegeDrinkingPrevention.gov/CollegeAIM 30

Appendix D: 

Acknowledgments

NIAAA wishes to thank the many contributors to CollegeAIM for their analyses, insights, and diligence, which helped craft a wealth of data and 

wisdom about college alcohol interventions into the first edition of this user-friendly tool.

DEVELOPMENT TEAMS

Environmental-Level Strategies Team

Traci L. Toomey, Ph.D.

Professor, Division of Epidemiology and Community Health, 

School of Public Health

University of Minnesota

Kathleen M. Lenk, M.P.H.

Senior Research Fellow, Division of Epidemiology and 

Community Health, 

School of Public Health

University of Minnesota 

Toben F. Nelson, Sc.D.

Associate Professor, Division of Epidemiology and 

Community Health, 

School of Public Health

University of Minnesota

Individual-Level Strategies Team

Mary Larimer, Ph.D.

Professor, Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, 

School of Medicine 

Director, Center for the Study of Health and Risk Behaviors, 

Department of Psychology 

University of Washington 

Jessica M. Cronce, Ph.D.

Assistant Professor, Department of Psychiatry and Behavior 

Sciences, 

School of Medicine 

University of Washington

Jason R. Kilmer, Ph.D.

Associate Professor, Department of Psychiatry and 

Behavioral Sciences, 

School of Medicine

Assistant Director of Health and Wellness for Alcohol 

and Other Drug Education

University of Washington 
31 www.CollegeDrinkingPrevention.gov/CollegeAIM 

REVIEWERS

David S. Anderson, Ph.D.

Professor of Education and Human Development

Director, Center for the Advancement of Public Health

George Mason University

Kate B. Carey, Ph.D.

Professor of Behavioral and Social Sciences

Center for Alcohol and Addiction Studies

School of Public Health

Brown University 

John D. Clapp, Ph.D., FAAHB

Associate Dean for Research, College of Social Work

Director, The Higher Education Center for Alcohol and 

Other Drug Misuse Prevention and Recovery

The Ohio State University

William DeJong, Ph.D.

Professor, School of Public Health

Boston University

Mark S. Goldman, Ph.D.

Distinguished University Professor, Department of Psychology

University of South Florida

Ralph Hingson, Sc.D., M.P.H.

Director, Division of Epidemiology and Prevention Research

National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism

Donald Kenkel, Ph.D.

Joan K. and Irwin M. Jacobs Professor, 

Department of Policy Analysis and Management

College of Human Ecology

Cornell University

Robert F. Saltz, Ph.D.

Senior Scientist

Prevention Research Center

Pacific Institute for Research and Evaluation

Helene R. White, Ph.D.

Distinguished Professor

Center of Alcohol Studies

Rutgers – The State University of New Jersey

Mark Wolfson, Ph.D.

Professor, Department of Social Sciences and Health Policy, 

School of Medicine

Wake Forest University
www.CollegeDrinkingPrevention.gov/CollegeAIM 32

NIAAA COLLEGE PRESIDENTS WORKING GROUP TO 

ADDRESS HARMFUL AND UNDERAGE DRINKING

Current Members

Robert Barchi, M.D., Ph.D.

President

Rutgers – The State University of New Jersey

Enku Gelaye

Vice Chancellor for Student Affairs

University of Massachusetts-Amherst

Jonathan Gibralter, Ph.D.

President

Wells College

Barbara Lee

Senior Vice President for Academic Affairs

Rutgers – The State University of New Jersey

Roderick J. McDavis, Ph.D.

President

Ohio University

Peter Philip Mercer, J.D., LL.M., Ph.D.

President

Ramapo College of New Jersey

Mark A. Nordenberg

Former Chancellor

University of Pittsburgh

Harris Pastides, Ph.D.

President 

University of South Carolina

Daniel Porterfield, Ph.D.

President

Franklin and Marshall College

Judy Sakaki, Ph.D.

Vice President for Student Affairs

University of California 

Chuck Staben, Ph.D.

President

University of Idaho

Samuel L. Stanley Jr., M.D.

President

Stony Brook University

E. Thomas Sullivan, J.D.

President

University of Vermont

Kent Syverud, M.A., J.D.

Chancellor

Syracuse University

Past Members

Thomas Buchanan, Ph.D.

Former President

University of Wyoming

Robert Carothers, Ph.D., J.D.

President Emeritus

University of Rhode Island 

Alice P. Gast, Ph.D.

Former President

Lehigh University 

Jim Yong Kim, M.D., Ph.D.

President Emeritus

Dartmouth University

David Skorton, M.D.

Former President

Cornell University
33 www.CollegeDrinkingPrevention.gov/CollegeAIM 

ADDITIONAL CONTRIBUTORS

Katelyn U. Cowen, M.P.H., CHES

Director, Office of Health Promotion, 

Division of Student Affairs

Syracuse University

Anna C. Edwards, M.Ed. 

Director of Student Services

Department of Student Life

University of South Carolina

Brittany A. Goldstein, M.S.Ed.

Chief of Staff and Board Liaison 

Office of the President

Ramapo College of New Jersey

Jeff Graham, Ed.D.

Assistant Vice President for Student Affairs 

Frostburg State University

Jerlena Griffin-Desta, Ph.D.

Deputy Vice President—Student Affairs

Executive Director, Student Services

University of California 

Lara Hunter, LCSW

Coordinator of Alcohol and Drug Clinical Services 

National Coordinator of the Red Watch Band Program 

Stony Brook University

Jean Kim, Ed.D.

Vice Provost for Student Affairs and Enrollment Management

University of Idaho

Terry Koons, M.Ed.

Associate Director, Campus Involvement Center for Health 

Promotion

Division of Student Affairs 

Ohio University 

Lisa Laitman, M.S.Ed., LCADC

Director of Alcohol and Drug Assistance Program

Rutgers – The State University of New Jersey

Melodee Lasky, M.D.

Executive Director, Rutgers Health Services

Rutgers – The State University of New Jersey

Robert Spahr

Assistant to the President for Media Relations 

Office of the President and University Advancement

Frostburg State University

NIAAA CollegeAIM Development 

and Project Management Staff

Vivian B. Faden, Ph.D.

Director, Office of Science Policy and Communications 

Associate Director for Behavioral Research

Fred Donodeo, M.P.A.

Chief, Communications and Public Liaison Branch

Maureen B. Gardner

Technical Publications Writer/Editor 
www.CollegeDrinkingPrevention.gov/CollegeAIM 34

Notes
35 www.CollegeDrinkingPrevention.gov/CollegeAIM 

Notes
www.CollegeDrinkingPrevention.gov/CollegeAIM 36

Visit CollegeAIM Online for:

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

Interactive matrices for comparing individual- and environmental-level interventions

A strategy planning worksheet that you can fill in online or download

Answers to frequently asked questions—see list on page 28 in this guide

Resources to help you implement strategies rated by CollegeAIM

References for studies analyzed for CollegeAIM

A downloadable version of the CollegeAIM guide

www.collegedrinkingprevention.gov/CollegeAIM
·

National Institute

on Alcohol Abuse 

and Alcoholism

NIH Publication No. 15-AA-8017

Printed September 2015