Fines from university police for underage drinking 16 and under: $30, $60, $100 17-20: $252, $378, $504, $756 Current drinking among high school students 49% Current underage drinking 39% Current drinking among adults 68% Binge drinking among adults 22% Chronic, heavy drinking among adults 8% *-Source: University of Wisconsin Population Health Institute 04-05*

Wisconsin has the highest rate of underage drinking, found a report issued Sept.17 from the University of Wisconsin Population Health Institute.

According to the report, drinking among high school students is at 49 percent while overall underage drinking is at 39 percent, yet the penalties are far lower for minors 16 and under.

When the university police catch a minor, 16 or younger, drinking in the dorms or out at a party, they are issued a $30 citation for first offense and up to $100 for a third offense. At the same time, their older companions, 17 and older receive a $252 citation for first offense and up to $756 for their fourth offense.

Jason Sichon, a UWM sophomore, said he can understand the differences in the fine amounts. “When you are 17, you can consent,” Sichon said. Before that age, it’s more of the parents’ responsibility, Sichon said.

But the parents are not usually around when the students are drinking. Nate Smidt, another UWM sophomore, drank for the first time when he was 15 at a Dave Matthews Band concert.

The next time he drank was when he was 16, and visiting his sister at the University of Nebraska. He said he doesn’t remember much about the occasion. It was all part of the “college experience” as Smidt called it.

As for the penalties of underage drinking, Smidt said the penalties for 16-year-olds should be the same as those for people 17 to 20. At that age, they have more responsibility and can drive.

Regardless of what the fines are, sophomore Sean Peplinski said it doesn’t really affect students decision to drink. He has already received three underage drinking tickets, with his first ticket issued when he was 17.

Scott Peak, director of University Housing, said he saw the report on underage drinking and wasn’t that surprised by the statistics. Throughout his years working at the university, he has seen numerous students with blood alcohol contents so high they were “almost comatose.”

“When you match that with people in high school, that does concern me,” Peak said. “They start the decision in high school.”

Peak is concerned about the drinking, but said he can see how students are confused about what to do.

“It’s a bunch of mixed messages,” Peak said. From one angle the students hear that drinking is bad for their health and grades, while college graduates rave about their exciting times drinking in college, Peak said.

During a typical year university housing may see 15-20 guests under the age of 18 involved in a rule violation, Peak said. Some may be as minor as a noise issue and are just given a warning while others involve university police.

“Residents are also held responsible for the actions of their guests.We will always be concerned about residents making poor decisions when it relates to alcohol and drug use,” Peak wrote in an email response to campus drinking. “When individuals/guests are under 18 – it becomes even more of an issue.”

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