A recent Telegraph article reported universities are doing little to address drinking as thousands of Freshers' week events and parties kicked off the new academic year. The article was published following comments by a vice-Chancellor that "many universities turn a blind eye to excessive drinking, believing that what students choose to do with alcohol, and indeed drugs, is none of their business".
Sir Anthony Seldon, vice-Chancellor of Buckingham University, made the charge in a report on the concept of a ‘positive university’, in which he also stated that universities should “no longer be allowed to continue with this permissive approach” to excessive drinking. To help address heavy drinking norms the report proposes alternative activities for students including various relaxation and wellbeing focused activities such as mindfulness, which has been shown to reduce drinking.
Are UK universities turning a blind eye?
Like many alcohol policy areas, the extent to which universities should actively discourage or intervene in heavy drinking behaviours amongst students may divide opinion.
Many students inevitably see the freedom and opportunity to enjoy themselves as a significant attraction of university, but levels of alcohol misuse and potential for harm are also significant; a recent systematic review found almost two-thirds of students drank at risky or harmful levels.
In 2014 an 'NUS Impact' scheme was piloted across seven Universities in England and Wales in a bid to “create a social norm of responsible alcohol consumption by students.” At the time we reported that the evidence for 'social norming' as the main thrust of the scheme was mixed at best, whilst other elements such as not serving intoxicated customers was already required by law, albeit often overlooked.
Indeed a report summary [pdf] from the 2014/15 NUS Impact pilot makes curious reading and may be unlikely to impress researchers involved in impact evaluation. Whilst claiming success, its achievements cite numbers of students 'engaged' or 'reached', and the majority of perception outcomes gathered via the survey appeared no different from pilot sites. Initially funded as a pilot by the Home Office, the scheme has nonetheless engaged a number of further Universities to sign up as self-funding member organisations.
A more proactive approach?
Other than the NUS impact scheme, of which the actual likely impact is indeed questionable, there appears no national or systematic approach or guidance to developing responses to reduce risky drinking in UK higher education settings. As such, the charge that universities on the whole take a permissive attitude to drug and alcohol issues may be valid, at least where it is not directly causing the university problems.
What more could universities do? One university lead responded to the Telegraph article on Twitter to highlight IBA direct activity during its freshers week had been actively reaching out to students to provide brief interventions. Universities perhaps could also do more to reach students via digital alcohol interventions, backed by a recent systematic review. Meanwhile industry funded Drinkaware has announced its 'Drinkaware Crew' initiative has been expanding to provide venues with Crew who look out to support young people who may be vulnerable and to promote 'positive social environments'. Although not specifically targeting universities, the scheme will be likely to be covering many student orientated nights in the 14 cities it now operates.
Others might argue that despite recent declines in drinking rates amongst younger people, whilst cheap alcohol is still widely available and promoted, harmful drinking amongst students is likely to remain a significant problem. Controversial student nights such as Carnage UK may be more tightly managed via on-trade regulations, but the question of whether universities ought to take a more proactive and robust approaches to reducing alcohol misuse amongst its students may warrant further attention.
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