September 20, 2007

Media contact: Patty Wellborn
604-795-2819
or 604-504-7441, local 2819
patty.wellborn@ucfv.ca

UCFV survey determines binge drinking not recognized as a problem by many university students

We have all seen the images of university students partying; binge drinking among post-secondary students in Canada is certainly not a new problem. UCFV researchers, however, have determined that while many students recognize the signs of binge drinking, very few admit it is something they do.

The B.C. Centre for Social Responsibility, based in the Criminology and Criminal Justice department at UCFV’s Abbotsford campus, recently surveyed more than 430 students from Simon Fraser University and the University College of the Fraser Valley. The students, between 19 and 25 years old, were asked a number of questions about their drinking habits and those of their peers.

While more than 73 per cent of survey respondents admit to participating in behaviours and activities that lead to binge drinking — many within the past 30 days — few admit they actually drink to excess.

“When we looked at an objective definition of binge drinking, a certain number of drinks over a specific time period, many students do report that they have engaged in that kind of drinking, but when asked if they consider what they do to be binge drinking, many say ‘no, no, no,’” explains research director Dr. Irwin Cohen.

Binge drinking has been defined as more than five drinks at a single occasion for males, and more than four drinks at a single occasion for females. A recent Canadian Campus survey, with a random sample of 6,282 full-time students from 40 universities, found that a large majority (85.7 per cent) of students used alcohol in the past year and that more than three-quarters (77.1 per cent) reported using alcohol in the past month. That survey also determined that more than 15 per cent of students self-identified as frequent or heavy drinkers and more than one-third admitted to being hazardous drinkers — five drinks in one sitting — but not on a weekly basis.

Research has also identified several factors that might lead to binge drinking, including being a first-year student; being a member of a fraternity or sorority; positive alcohol expectations; prior drug use; no or low perception of risk; and a friend’s opinion of binge drinking.

Binge drinking, however, can result in many problems, starting with missed classes and low grades and possibly leading to sexual assault, impaired driving, accidents, thoughts of suicide, and accidental death.

Research coordinator and lead author of the report, Amanda McCormick, says universities now need to acknowledge the problem of binge drinking and come up with ideas that promote student life as fun but do not lead to binge-drinking issues.

“With this report in hand, universities can now promote the definition of what binge drinking is and take action,” says McCormick. “Universities need to look at the activities they provide and find ways to promote them in a ‘dry’ way. We want them to look at this report so they can realize binge drinking is an issue and establish effective policy to prevent it.”

She points to ideas like mocktail parties, dry residences, alcohol-free events and concerts, and public awareness campaigns.

McCormick says that although both UCFV and SFU have engaged in public awareness campaigns regarding the consumption of alcohol and binge drinking, few students involved in the study recalled seeing such campaigns. This finding suggests that there is a need for different strategies and approaches. She also notes the early age that students first experiment with alcohol and stresses that this issue goes beyond the universities.

According to research, students start experimenting with alcohol before they are 15 years old and many first report binge drinking by the time they are 16. McCormick says that students agree that one of the reasons they drink is that it helps to break the ice at social events. They continue to drink because they have the approval of their peers.

“We also need to correct some social norms, like the fact that some parents purchase alcohol for their teenagers, or the idea that it’s ok to go to university and drink a lot,” she adds.

The study recommends that universities need to be aware of binge drinking and come up with constructive ways to keep university life fun, but with more proactive prevention efforts when it comes to alcohol consumption.

“We are trying to break down the idea that part of your university experience must involve drinking,” adds Cohen. “You don’t have to drink to have a rich university experience and we need students to know that.”

The B.C. Centre for Social Responsibility is supported by the Office of the Chief Information Officer, BC Ministry of Labour and Citizens’ Services. Based at UCFV, the centre’s mandate is to research and evaluate programs that deal with addictions issues. The Centre’s binge drinking research report was funded by the Ministry of Public Safety and Solicitor General. For more information about the Binge Drinking report, or the BCCSR, please call 604-870-5940 or 1-877-388-8755 or visit www.bccsr.ca

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