More than 1,700 students between the ages of 18 and 24 die each year from alcohol-related causes, according to the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA). These students succumb to alcohol poisoning, cardiac arrest, or injuries from falls off dorm room balconies or other heights on campus. The problem of binge drinking, defined as five or more drinks at one sitting, has continued despite the media attention and alcohol awareness campaigns of the last 10 years. Heavy drinking is prevalent on all campuses, even prestigious Ivy League institutions. Experts say the root causes of excessive drinking revolve around depression, anxiety, peer pressure, and the desire for social acceptance. This is coupled with a culture of drinking often encouraged by local bars, which run promotions where low prices and happy hours offer incentives to drink. Lisa Laitman, director of substance abuse recovery initiatives at Rutgers University, says that student attitudes about alcohol also play a huge role in excessive drinking. But colleges are fighting back by enacting new strategies to change student attitudes, curb drinking, and avert the negative consequences that accompany it. One of the most controversial efforts to reduce alcohol abuse is the Amethyst Initiative, a group of chancellors and presidents of universities and colleges who have called on lawmakers to lower the drinking age from 21 to 18, alleging that current laws are arbitrary and actually encourage binge drinking.