Students don’t drink much as they think

Chelse McKee, Staff

Students may be overestimating their peers’ alcohol consumption, according a recent survey conducted by the Student Life Company.

The survey, with nformation gathered from 2003-04, was released last month. The project, funded by a $1-million grant from the Brewer’s Association of Canada, is based on the social norms theory, which says that a person’s attitude and behaviour in a social context may be determined by what they believe is the normal occurrence.

The study, according to their report, hopes to eliminate students’ false perceptions of alcohol consumption and reduce alcohol consumption and alcohol-related harm.

“We can change habits of other students. Maybe students won’t drink so much,” said Lynn Smith, executive director of Student Affairs.

In the United States, the survey,combined with an advertising campaign, has already proven effective.

The rate of dangerous drinking at the Northern Illinois University has reduced by 44 per cent over 10 years, while the rate at the University of Arizona has reduced by 29 per cent over three years.

The Canadian version, a four-year pilot, began in Feb. 2003 and surveyed 11 post-secondary institutions, including the University of Manitoba. The Student Life Company sent out 11,000 randomized notices and received back 5,280 respondents. The University of Manitoba had 1,500 surveys sent out to students. The average sample size of responses from a university was 480.

Drinking, in the survey, is defined as the consumption of an alcoholic drink. A drink is defined as a 12-oz beer, a glass of wine, a shot of liquor, or a mixed drink.

Some of the questions on the query included asking how often a student drinks at a party or bar. Other questions focused on previous drinking occasions and the level of alcohol consumed.

According to the results from 2003, 80 per cent of students believe that the average student drinks once per week or more often. One-third of students believe students drink three times per week.

However, 63 per cent of students stated that for themselves, they drink twice per month or less. Sixty-four percent of students reported one to four drinks, or none at all, when attending a party or bar.

Minna Goulet, a third-year arts students, said she drinks more than that.

“I usually have a glass or two of wine every night. I probably drink four or five times a week.”

Trevor Pries, a second-year computer science student, said he was surprised at those results.

“Teenagers are . . . viewed as just go[ing] out and bing[ing],” he said.

In the survey, 32 per cent of students think the majority of their peers have the mindset that it’s OK to let alcohol interfere with their academic responsibilities. In actuality, 93 per cent of students believe that one should not drink to the point that it interferes with school and other obligations.

In addition, 85 per cent of respondents said they do not perform poorly in their academics as a result of alcohol.

Goulet says that, although she has had close calls, she had never failed an assignment or a course because of drinking.

“If I get really drunk and I’m hung over, I won’t do work . . . that I have to do. I mean, I’ll have to do it eventually, but it usually ends up being late.”

In 2005-06, there was $211.9 million worth of alcohol sales, with beer making up nearly half the sales at 48.6 per cent.

The university, which has already begun advertising with the new information, plans to continue to inform student about the true social context of student drinking.

According to schools surveyed, seen below, the following percentages were gathered.

Humber Institute of Technology, Lakeland College, Saint Mary’s University, Sault College, Simon Fraser University, University of Alberta, University of Manitoba, University of New Brunswick, University of Saskatchewan, and Victoria University (in the University of Toronto

62 % – Never have to take care of someone who drank too much
66 % – Never have their sleep interrupted by other students’ alcohol use
76 % – Never have their space left untidy by other students’ drinking 85 % – Never are prevented from enjoying concerts, sports, and social activities due to other students’ drinking
91 % – Never have personal property or one’s residence damaged due to other students’ drinking
86 % – Students agree that it’s easy to make friends at their school without drinking
74 % – Students never get into an argument or fight as a result of drinking
78 % – Students never miss a class as a result of drinking
80 % – Students have a designated driver when they know they will be drinking
78 % – Students never drive after drinking
82 % – Never hurt or injured themselves as a result of drinking
91 % – Student never involved in property damaged as a result of drinking