The decision to ban hard liquor from fraternity houses at Kansas University is at least a small step toward promoting a more responsible attitude toward alcohol consumption among college students.

KU’s Interfraternity Council announced last week that it had approved a policy that will ban both the possession and consumption of hard alcohol by anyone on fraternity property. Beer and wine are not part of the ban.

IFC members approved the ban in response to “three critical issues — alcohol abuse, cultural competence and sexual violence — in light of incidents involving Greek life at both the national and local level,” according to a statement. The IFC also plans to create a peer education program to address sexual violence, along with efforts to prohibit “offensive behavior” that could be seen as culturally insensitive.

The IFC governs the 23 fraternity chapters at KU, 17 of which have official chapter houses. Those fraternities represent a relatively small number of the total KU enrollment, but have attracted more than their share of attention for issues related to alcohol and sexual assault. To whatever extent the hard liquor ban can curb excessive drinking on fraternity property, it’s a welcome change. Allowing beer and wine still raises issues related to underage and excessive alcohol consumption but the liquor ban is a positive step — if it is vigorously enforced.

Alcohol use by all students, not just fraternity members, has been a topic of ongoing concern at KU and other schools. Too many lives and academic careers have been damaged by irresponsible drinking that too often is seen as an accepted rite of passage for college students. Changes in both attitudes and behavior have been difficult to achieve.

Perhaps the most important aspect of the fraternity liquor ban is the message it sends that excessive alcohol consumption and the inappropriate behaviors it sometimes encourages are not an acceptable, desirable or natural part of the college experience. Hopefully that message will be embraced by many other KU students.