Social Norming

The Trend Clear.  Overdoing it is over.

Are you aware that most college students in Berkshire County abstain from driving after drinking, that most college students in Berkshire County prefer to date a partner that does not binge drink - sober dates are more attractive, that most college students in Berkshire County make healthy choices? More than ever, college students in Berkshire County are saying that they drink alcohol only in moderation or not at all.

A large percentage of our population has the impression from the media that binge drinking, drunk driving, and taking big risks are the norm for our young people, but the fact is most of our young people are responsible in their living, playing, and studying habits.

Safe Communities of the Berkshires, the Governor's Highway Safety Bureau, and a consortium of Western Massachusetts colleges are developing an educational program aimed at students from middle school through college to let them know that they do not have to engage in risk taking, unhealthy behaviors to be part of the crowd.  The crowd is playing it safe.  The crowd is enjoying life, without risking it.  The crowd is protecting its future, its options, by making responsible choices.

Safe Communities of the Berkshires is developing advertising to get the message out that overdoing it is over.  Through posters distributed to schools, community agencies, and colleges, billboards, cinema clips, website billboards, and newspaper advertisements, the word is being spread.

This web site is a source for products that can be used for educational purposes by schools, community agencies, businesses, and others interested in letting the community know what is going on.

Click on the following to download a product and/or learn more about it:

    Poster - shown on home page - An Adobe Page Maker 6.5 file.  This file can be tailored to your school's needs. The picture can be replaced with a picture of students from your school. The statistics and source info can be edited to reflect your school.  (This poster is also available in Macintosh Quark Express format.  Contact Safe Communities of the Berkshires for information on obtaining that format.)

    Web page animated banner (socnorm1.gif 30KB) - After this picture loads into your browser.  Right-click and select Save Image to an appropriate folder (directory)