Drinking on college campuses is more pervasive and destructive than many people realize. The extent of the problem was recently highlighted by an extensive 3-year investigation by the Task Force on College Drinking, commissioned by the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA). The Task Force reports that alcohol consumption is linked to at least 1,400 student deaths and 500,000 unintentional injuries annually (1). Alcohol consumption by college students is associated with drinking and driving, diminished academic performance, and medical and legal problems. Nondrinking students, as well as members of the surrounding community, also may experience alcohol-related consequences, such as increased rates of crime, traffic crashes, rapes and assaults, and property damage. For example, each year, more than 600,000 students are assaulted by other students who have been drinking (1). Yet efforts to reduce student drinking have largely been unsuccessful, in part because proven, research-based prevention strategies have not been consistently applied. This "Alcohol Alert" presents key findings from the Task Force's landmark report, "A Call to Action: Changing the Culture of Drinking at U.S. Colleges." It describes the factors that influence college drinking, approaches to help college administrators address the problem, and resources for more detailed information on this important topic. "Alcohol Alert," a publication of the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism, provides timely information on alcohol research and treatment to health professionals and other interested people.