Spring break trips frequently involve
heavier drinking than on college campuses as well as an increase in
risky sexual activity.
A recent poll
conducted by the American Medical Association (AMA) found that
alcohol and sexual activities play a potentially dangerous role in
spring break trips among college co-eds. This poll was conducted on
a nationwide sample of 644 women ages 17-35 years old who currently
attend college, graduated from college, or attended (but did not
graduate), and reside within the United States. 83% of those polled
agreed that spring break trips involve more or heavier drinking than
what occurs on college campuses and 74% said spring break trips
result in increased sexual activity. The poll also found that an
overwhelming majority (83%) of women had friends who drank most of
the nights while on spring break. Furthermore, nearly 3 out of 5
women knew friends who had unprotected sex during spring break.
Almost all those polled (92%) said it was easy to get alcohol while
on spring break and 2 out of 5 women agreed that easy access to free
or cheap alcohol or a drinking age under age 21 were important
factors in their decision to go on a spring break trip. Each year in
Cancun, Mexico, a major spring break destination for American
college students, the city and hospitals report an increase in
deaths, rapes, injuries, assaults, and arrests related to drinking.
In Daytona, Florida, another popular spring break destination,
county officials reported twice as many rape cases during the month
of spring break in 2005. 59% of those surveyed support restricting
the content of spring break flyers and ads on campus, and 61%
support prohibiting drinking or alcohol specials as part of any tour
package. Approximately 71% support increased regulation of the tour
agencies, and 81% support the idea of requiring colleges to offer
alternative spring breaks that do not include alcohol. The AMA said
the poll results highlight the need for policy change, including
offering alternative spring breaks and restrictions on alcohol
advertising on campus. Parents are also strongly encouraged to talk
with their children about the health risks of alcohol use and spring
break.1
1Sex
and Intoxication Among Women More Common on Spring Break According
to AMA Poll, American Medical Association, March 8, 2006, pp.
1-2.
