The annoying drunks in the parking lot before the game are getting lonely.

According to a new study released by the NCAA, 93 percent of college students behave appropriately when they tailgate.

The 2004 Safe Celebration Study is the result of Data Development Corporation's in-person interviews with 986 students over the age of 21 at NCAA campuses across the country who said they had attended at least one sporting event over the last year.

Sponsors include the NCAA, Anheuser-Busch, the Techniques for Effective Alcohol Management coalition and the National Association of State Universities and Land-Grant Colleges.

"The vast majority of fans do act appropriately and we want to continue that trend," said Jill Pepper, executive director of the TEAM Coalition.

The poll also said 98 percent of students say they behave safely during games, 86 percent do not storm the field and 80 percent of students who drink before the game do so responsibly.

The poll was conducted from April 26 to May 7, and had a 3.6 percent margin of error, according to a statement by John Kaestner, vice president of consumer affairs at Anheuser-Busch.

"One of the premises of this survey is it looks at the theory of positive peer norms," said Mary Wilfert, assistant director of education outreach for the NCAA. Students "have this sense that fans are generally into heavy abusive behavior, and when we look at this survey we see that's not the case."

Steve MacCarthy, vice president for university relations at Pennsylvania State University and a member of the Council for University Relations and Development for National Association of State Universities and Land-Grant Colleges, said they began a campaign a few years ago to draw attention to excessive alcohol consumption.

"It's a concern for universities and we're trying to do all we can to address it," MacCarthy said.

He said the majority of people at college sporting events behave appropriately, but there are always some who behave inappropriately.

"It's with small numbers, but it creates a big problem," MacCarthy said.

However, some think the survey results are inaccurate.

Jay Hedlund, the manager for the Campaign for Alcohol-Free Sports TV, said the numbers are not accurate because the survey did not include underage drinkers.

"These numbers are clearly bogus in the first place because it's such a skewed sample," Hedlund said. "It's clearly part of Anheuser-Busch's effort to minimize the appearance of college drinking on campus."

Kaestner disagreed.

"To suggest that Anheuser-Busch's involvement and funding taints this study is ridiculous," Kaestner said in an e-mail. "Anheuser-Busch is opposed to all forms of alcohol abuse, including irresponsible and underage drinking on college campuses."

Julie Rosenbluth, the director of adolescent and adult programs and training for the American Council for Drug Education, said the survey results sounded accurate.

Pepper said the organizations that collaborated in the survey are mounting a campaign to encourage responsible behavior by fans, which is scheduled to kick off by the end of 2004.

The campaign will involve providing templates and messages for the college media in sporting events, as well as manuals on how to create safer tailgating areas, according to Wilfert.