BOSTON (AP) – Diversity on college campuses may help deter problem drinking, according to a new Harvard study that found binge-drinking rates among young, white and male students were significantly lower on campuses with a higher proportion of minority, female and older students.

Researchers with the College Alcohol Study at the Harvard School of Public Health found that greater diversity may even curb heavy drinking among those who were binge drinkers in high school. The study was reported Thursday in the November issue of the American Journal of Public Health.

The findings should cause colleges that are serious about reducing heavy drinking to reconsider admissions policies, freshmen-only dormitories and even fraternities, said Dr. Henry Wechsler, a Harvard researcher and expert on campus drinking. His research has shown white, underage and male students are most likely to be problem drinkers, while minorities, students over 21 and females are less likely.

“At the simplest, putting students together of one kind, such as freshmen dorms or fraternities and sororities which are very homogenous, may be associated with having more drinking,” he said. “If you have a high concentration of heavier drinkers you don’t have role models for moderation.”

The study analyzed data from 52,312 college students at 114 predominantly white colleges from the 1993, 1997, 1999 and 2001 College Alcohol Study surveys. Binge drinking was defined as five or more drinks in a row at least once in the past two weeks for men, or four or more drinks in a row for women.

Binge-drinking rates for white students was 53.3 percent on campuses with fewer minorities but dropped to 43.9 percent on more diverse campuses.

On campuses with fewer older students, 49.6 of underage students were binge-drinkers, while 36.7 percent of underage students were problem drinkers on campuses with more older students.

Moderating effects of minority and older students on the drinking habits of young white men – who are at the greatest risk of binge-drinking – were observed at schools with small, medium and large enrollments. The moderating effect of having more female students was significant for the small and medium schools, but not for the large schools, the study found.

Studies have shown binge drinking is associated with lower grades, vandalism, and physical and sexual violence.

David Anderson, an expert on college drinking and a George Mason University professor, said the findings were consistent with his experiences. However, he cautioned that there may be valid reasons for grouping together similar students. Freshmen, for example, are going through similar experiences and it may be easier to hold alcohol education programs if they are housed in one place.

“This is going to be an interesting dialogue,” he said. “I can come down on both sides.”

The study was funded by The Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, based in Princeton, N.J., a philanthropy devoted exclusively to health and health care.

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