The Alcohol Literacy Challenge (ALC) is a single-session, group-delivered intervention designed to reduce underage binge drinking. The ALC is available in age appropriate lessons for 5-6th grade, 7-8th grade, high school, college, and parents.
Last reviewed: 2025
Intended Outcomes:
The goals of the program are to change students’ alcohol expectancies and lower alcohol use.
Continuum of Care:
Indicated Prevention, Selective Prevention, Universal Prevention
Topic Areas:
Behavioral Health/Mental Health, Substance Use
Ages:
Childhood (4-12), Teen/Adolescent (13-18), Young Adult (19-24)
Geographic Locations:
Urban
Delivery Settings:
School-Based, Virtual
Cultural Considerations:
Limited research found involving diverse populations
Audience:
This program is for students who are in elementary school through college and their parents.
Credentials:
Classroom teachers implement this program.
Manuals:
Yes
Is Training Required?
Yes, see developer info
Who can provide the required training?
Please see the following site for more information on training: https://alcoholliteracychallenge.com/alc/purchasing/412-training
Program Costs (materials, training, etc.):
Yes, refer to program website
Program/Practice Website:
https://alcoholliteracychallenge.com
Relevant Published, Peer-Reviewed Research:
Cruz, I. Y., & Dunn, M. E. (2003). Lowering risk for early alcohol use by challenging alcohol expectancies in elementary school children. Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology, 71(3), 493–503. https://doi.org/10.1037/0022-
Bridges, L. S., & Sharma, M. (2015). A Systematic Review of Interventions Aimed at Reducing Binge Drinking among College Students. Journal of Alcohol and Drug Education, 59(3), 25–47. https://www.jstor.org/stable/
Fried, A. B., & Dunn, M. E. (2012). The Expectancy Challenge Alcohol Literacy Curriculum (ECALC): A single session group intervention to reduce alcohol use. Psychology of Addictive Behaviors, 26(3), 615–620. https://doi.org/10.1037/
Flori, J. N., Schreiner, A. M., Dunn, M. E., Crisafulli, M. J., Lynch, G. T., Dvorak, R. D., & Davis, C. A. (2023). Delivery of a Prevention Program in Large College Classes: Effectiveness of the Expectancy Challenge Alcohol Literacy Curriculum. Substance Use & Misuse, 58(11), 1399–1408. https://doi.org/10.1080/
Dunn, M. E., Schreiner, A. M., Flori, J. N., Crisafulli, M. J., Willis, E. A., Lynch, G. T., Leary, A. V., & Dvorak, R. D. (2022). Effective prevention programming for reducing alcohol-related harms experienced by first year college students: Evaluation of the expectancy challenge alcohol literacy curriculum (ECALC). Addictive Behaviors, 131, 107338. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.
Dunn, M. E., Fried-Somerstein, A., Flori, J. N., Hall, T. V., & Dvorak, R. D. (2020). Reducing alcohol use in mandated college students: A comparison of a Brief Motivational Intervention (BMI) and the Expectancy Challenge Alcohol Literacy Curriculum (ECALC). Experimental and Clinical Psychopharmacology, 28(1), 87–98. https://doi.org/10.1037/
Additional Sources:
https://hanleyfoundation.org/prevention/alcohol-literacy-challenge/
WV Rating:
Supported by Research
»WV Ratings Info
Rationale for Rating:
Outcomes are generally positive for ALC. Significant reductions in high-risk alcohol use were shown for college aged participants: lowering mean blood alcohol content, reduction in peak drinks per sitting, and reductions in peak blood alcohol content after 4 weeks post-intervention. Many reductions were shown overall for negative consequences associated with drinking for the college population. No research was found on younger populations.
Contraindications or Concerns:
None identified.
Other Registries/Ratings
The California Evidence-Based Clearinghouse for Child Welfare:
Not On Registry
Blueprints for Healthy Youth Development:
Not On Registry
Clearinghouse for Military Family Readiness:
Unclear +
Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention Model Programs Guide:
Washington State Institute for Public Policy:
Found on the registry. See link for more information.
Washington State Institute for Public Policy Registry Link:
https://www.wsipp.wa.gov/BenefitCost/Program/661