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.