Wechsler said yesterday that schools should allocate more resources to addressing binge drinking problems. According to the study, ways of addressing the issue include offering alcohol-free social events and trying to raise awareness of the problem.

But Wechsler also cautioned against relying on "magic bullet solutions" and said that solving the problem requires the help of all members of the campus community.

"No single program or approach is going to do this," he said at a press conference announcing the study's findings yesterday.

"I wouldn't try to do it myself." he advised administrators. "You have to involve the community and all parts of campus."

For men, the study defined binge drinking as consuming five or more drinks in a row at least once in two weeks. For women, it defined binge drinking as consuming four or more drinks in a row during the same time frame.

Frequent binge drinkers consumed this amount at least three times in the two weeks prior to completing the survey.

Wechsler's study is detailed in an article in the March 2000 issue of the Journal of American College Health.

When the study is next performed in 2001, Wechsler said, he hopes to visit the sites of participating schools to observe their "policies in action" and find the most effective ways of addressing binge drinking.