Researchers at Morgan State University have launched a survey to study the drinking behavior of students at Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs). The Century Council (TCC), funded by leading distillers to fight drunk driving and underage drinking, is funding this research project. The research which is being conducted by Dr. Linda Loubert of the Economics Department at Morgan State University is believed to be the largest national study ever undertaken on alcohol use and drinking patterns among students attending HBCUs.

The Economics Department in conjunction with the Institute for Urban Research (IUR) at Morgan State University propose to survey and collect alcohol consumption data from students across all the HBCUs. The research aims to explore why students drink and what are their approaches to alcohol, in general, via an online survey. It will also allow for comparisons of reported behaviors and attitudes toward drinking among African American students at HBCUs to that of students at Predominantly White Institutions (PWI). Overall, the research seeks to better understand college drinking culture and derive insights from college students that can be used to reduce over consumption.

In explaining the importance of this research, Dr. Raymond Winbush, Director of the Institute for Urban Research, remarked, "this is the largest national study ever undertaken on drinking patterns among students attending HBCUs and it will allow educators and policy makers to better understand the motivations of these students and provide effective communications and intervention tools for addressing binge drinking among African American college students."

The first one thousand students who complete the survey will be sent a $15 e-gift card. The website:http://hbcusurvey.webs.com provides all pertinent information for taking the survey. The survey is in progress, so students should sign up quickly.

For further information, please contact: Dr. Linda Loubert, Ph.D., Principal Investigator, HBCU Binge Drinking Study, Morgan State University, 1700 East Cold Spring Lane, Baltimore MD 21251. Email contact is Linda.Loubert@morgan.eduor hbcu.survey@gmail.com .