Minister warns on heavy drinking

Health and Welfare Minister Jeon Jae-hee sent a letter to the student representative body of 348 local colleges last week, urging them to take part in a campaign for responsible drinking, ministry officials said yesterday.

In the letter, Jeon said the accidents that occur after heavy drinking not only affect the students` families and their schools, but have an impact on the entire society.

"When looking at the personal aspect, the person might carry the bad drinking habit even later on in life, which is why it adds importance to have an appropriate drinking habit and culture in college," she said.

"It`s critical for the student representative body to play an active role in promoting responsible drinking. I sincerely ask you to voluntarily participate in the movement to prevent serious accidents resulting from drinking."

This comes after a 19-year-old student only identified by his surname Kim fell from the second floor of a building in Pyeongchang, Gangwon Province, while attending freshmen orientation for his university on Feb. 28.

He was pronounced dead on the scene. Witnesses said he visited four different rooms from 10 p.m. to 3 a.m. to have drinks with the newcomers, according to the police.

Frequent accidents are reported during college freshmen orientation every year.

In March 2007, a freshman who had just entered a local university was hit by a train while drunk and throwing up near the edge of the platform.

Another freshman identified as Oh, 18, fell from the sixth floor of a building in Gangwon Province after drinking excessively with his classmates during the same period and a 19-year-old freshman lost his life as he fell into a 1.5-meter waterway in a farming region in Anseong, Gyeonggi Province in 2006.

As a prevention measure, Minister Jeon met with 15 executive club members of moderate drinking promotion clubs at 14 schools on Feb. 24 to discuss countermeasures for students` heavy drinking habits.

Students suggested dispatching professionals that could offer fact-based advice, encouraged the participation of people who sell alcohol and providing information on student alcohol consumption across the nation.

In response to the students` comment, the ministry plans to secure 1.1 billion won ($709,321) to establish a drinking promotion club at all 348 schools.

Currently, the ministry is offering support funds of 3 million won each to all 18 clubs at local universities.

By Cho Ji-hyun



(sharon@heraldm.com)