By Billie May Mason
Photos by Billie May Mason
According to a survey by SOS UK in 2022, over 81% of students believe drinking and getting drunk is part of university culture. The impact of alcohol on students and their mental health is a growing concern among students, their institutions, and the government alike. The drinking culture has been deeply ingrained in the daily lives of university students.
Across UK campuses, from large city universities to smaller institutions, alcohol consumption is a prominent part of the social scene and is mainly encouraged through bars, pubs, and peers. Recent surveys reveal that over half of the students drink alcohol more than once a week, and 61% drink at home or at a friend’s house before heading out for the night, according to SOS UK.
The tradition of drinking among university students has longstanding roots within the UK, often driven by social bonding and stress relief. The so-called drinking culture has existed since the 16th century. Dr. Phil Withington, a professor at Sheffield University, has connected modern drinking culture to the rise of education. Over 460 years ago, when young, wealthy men saw conversational skills as an art, alcohol was used as an agent to help loosen the tongue. However, the frequency and intensity of drinking sessions have escalated over the centuries, raising alarms among educators and health professionals.
It is known that the overdependence on alcohol has many downsides to its consumption. These can include mild to extreme negative effects on mental wellbeing and physical health. The short-term effects of alcohol consumption include nausea and vomiting, blackouts, injuries, risky sexual behaviour, alcohol poisoning, and violent outbursts.
In England and Wales, alcohol is thought to play a part in approximately 1.2 million violent incidents—almost half of all violent crimes, according to the Royal Colleges of Physicians. Some long-term effects of drinking alcohol include high blood pressure, heart failure, liver disease, infertility, and sexual problems. In 2021, there were 20,970 deaths that were related to alcohol in England, equating to a rate of 38.5 per 100,000 population. Of these 7,872 deaths, seven were from chronic liver disease, equating to a rate of 14.5 per 100,000 people, according to GOV UK.
Drinking regularly also leads to building alcohol tolerance, meaning over time the brain will become less reactive to its positive effects and need more or stronger alcohol to be consumed to feel those positive effects.
Mental health difficulties
Kings College London reports that since 2017, undergraduate students experiencing mental health difficulties have increased from 6% to 16%. Alcohol is often used as a coping mechanism by students; 76% of university students feel that getting drunk is expected of them, and 79% see it as part of the university culture, according to Student Drinking Statistics UK.
Conversely, alcohol usage can also contribute to the worsening of many mental health problems. According to the Mental Health Foundation, heavy, regular consumption of alcohol can make depression worse, and if a person is taking antidepressants, it is not recommended to drink any alcohol at all.
The stress of university work, exams, and deadlines can be tough for students to deal with, which may lead them to drink to relax and take their minds off of constant worries. However, students cannot always be blamed; many establishments, such as bars and pubs, have offers for students that allow them to drink hard liquor for much less.
Be At One in Camden is currently offering cocktails to students for £6, a drastic decrease from £9–£12. Another example is Simmons, a famous bar chain in London, where students can get a glass of wine for £3 and a shot of spirit and mixer for £2.50. Students struggling with their finances can be enticed by such beneficial student offers. There are many more pubs and bars offering such deals and marketing tactics like student discounts, which may make drinking more accessible but also lead to financial strain and burden.
The media, movies, and TV shows have played a huge role in painting what the life of university students is like. A 2018 survey from the National Union of Students showed that 76% of students feel an expectation for students to drink and get drunk, and 79% agreed that drinking and getting drunk are key parts of university culture. Movies and TV shows perpetuate the idea that heavy drinking is synonymous with a good university experience. This can create social pressure for students who would rather cut down or not drink at all.
“I have definitely felt pressure to drink; being a student is mainly about partying, drinking, and doing all the work at the last minute. I have always thought this, like the whole point of freshers’ week is to party and drink, right? But for most people, it doesn’t end at just freshers’ week,” said Nathan Jones, 21, a student at University College London. Nathan is a clear example of someone who, at some points, felt the need to drink to fit in socially.
“I think a lot of students find it hard to balance (university) work and stress while having a good time. There is this perspective that (university) students are free spirits, and this is the time where they enjoy themselves before going into a professional career, so why not go all out?” expressed Ayuba Hussein, 19, who is also a student at University College London.
She perfectly describes the expectations undergraduates have when attending university. Students are usually 18 when they first attend university, and that is when they move out of home for the first time, giving them the freedom they may not have had before.
There are people fighting for a change. SOS UK, a student-led educational charity, has a programme called ‘Alcohol Impact’, which is a culture change programme that aims to support universities in adopting policies that produce positive and healthy campuses as well as helping to tackle students’ alcohol usage.
The University of Aberdeen introduced Keith House, an alcohol-free section for student accommodation at the university, clearly encouraging an alcohol-free experience and going against the norms of binge culture. A renowned university making such a decision helps decrease the social stigma expected of students at university and helps with the bigger movement of alcohol awareness for students.
University College London (UCL), known for its diverse and international student body, is also actively engaged in promoting responsible drinking. The university provides a range of support services and educational programmes aimed at reducing alcohol misuse. UCL’s student union often organises alcohol-free events and activities, promoting a balanced approach to socialising without the need for excessive drinking.
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