In what marks a major shift in the way UW-Madison handles problem drinking, officials are now requiring most students who get an underage drinking ticket or some other alcohol-related citation to take a course on the risks of alcohol abuse. Students pay $78 for two group sessions or $200 for two one-on-one sessions with a professional substance-abuse counselor. That?s in addition to the cost of the ticket ? $263.50 for a first-offense underage drinking citation, according to the UW-Madison Police Department. Previously, the university did not have a consistent approach to dealing with alcohol-related issues, said Tom Sieger, prevention director at University Health Services UHS. Students would be referred to counseling if they caught the eye of a staff member or could be kicked out of the dorms if they violated the alcohol policy, Sieger said.
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