Last post, we discussed a Canadian Centre on Substance Use and Addiction (CCSA) report on the harms of youth alcohol use. CCSA released a similar report on Heavy Episodic Drinking Among Post-Secondary Students, summarized below.

The CCSA ran focus groups on five Canadian post-secondary campuses to discuss students’ beliefs on binge drinking. Key highlights from this report include:

Student attitudes on heavy drinking

• Generally, students do not recognize their drinking behaviours to be harmful
• Students do not perceive excessive drinking as a serious concern
• Drinking is an expected part of the post-secondary experience with minimal perceived health or safety risks
• Experiences with alcohol change over time as students learn their limits

Reasons for participating in heavy drinking

• The campus culture of drinking to socialize, have fun, and be with friends
• Peer pressure to keep up with others’ drinking through various activities, including drinking games and buying rounds of drinks
• Dealing with school pressures and reducing anxiety and stress
• Boredom and having nothing else to do

Student suggestions on how to reduce heavy drinking

• Educate students early and often about alcohol and its potential harms, preferably from peers as it is more appealing and relatable
• Normalize moderate drinking as a part of everyday life rather than condemning it
• Find fun alternative activities for students in the evening, rather than going to bars and clubs
• Eliminate risky behaviour through smart practices, like bringing a set amount of money to the bar or club, limiting amounts of alcohol for pre-drinking, and consuming non-alcoholic drinks during drinking occasions

Reference:

Meister, S. R., Barker, B., & Flores Pajot, M.-C. (2018). Heavy episodic drinking among post-secondary students: Influencing factors and implications. Ottawa, ON: Canadian Centre on Substance Use and Addiction.