For most young people, heading to university is the first opportunity to live independently.  This means making your own decisions and being guided by your own internal compass like never before.  However, to coin an overused superhero-related quote: “With great power comes great responsibility”.

The theme of this blog is Alcohol use and the hope is to offer food for thought to aid you in your decision making. For the purposes of this blog, the word Alcohol can be used interchangeably with any mood-altering substances.  There is no finger pointing intended, no lecturing or judgement; just a genuine concern for safety and wellbeing.

When discussing the consequences of alcohol use (it is binge drinking we are particularly focusing on), most consequences can be broken down under two main headings:

• Risk taking behaviour
• Long-term health implications

Like smoking, public health advocates have been shouting from the rooftops for years about the risks of excessive drinking.  Everyone is bound to be aware to some degree that alcohol impacts your liver and is linked with numerous cancers.  Most people however, associate these illnesses with those who are alcohol dependent and tell themselves the story that it will never happen to them.  The reality is however, that a quarter of deaths in men under 34 are attributed to alcohol.  Alcohol has a big impact on our calorie intake, and has a negative effect on our brain and mental health.  It’s unlikely that a person in their early twenties is being kept up at night by the potential long term effects of alcohol such as the link between alcohol and cancer. It is difficult to worry when you can’t see an immediate impact. 

Risk taking behaviours:

We all know that alcohol lowers inhibitions, It’s known as a ‘social lubricant’ which means for those of us who feel awkward in social settings, alcohol feels like just the ticket to loosen up.  Unfortunately, the risks aren’t always worth the rewards.

Picture the scene: you’ve just spent the last few hours in a bar drinking with friends.  What role does alcohol play in the decisions that come next?  Thoughts that may go your head:

 ‘I only live ten minutes from here, I’m not spending a fiver on a taxi when I could use it for food.  It’ll be perfectly safe…’

 ‘Oh look, I haven’t finished my drink yet after going to the bathroom and leaving it sitting there all alone.  Waste not, want not...’ 

‘I really need the toilet and I’m not going to make it home.  Best just to duck into this quiet street…’

Each of these situations presents a risk.  Each leaves a person vulnerable.  Even the final scenario has long-term implications of a criminal record if a person is caught with their pants down.  We have come across many students who have been caught short by the police and face indecency charges for something they thought was no big deal.  Imagine how one’s career could be impacted by a record of indecency, especially if you plan to work in a sector that includes vulnerable people such as children. 

Having alcohol on board will reduce reaction time and impair risk assessment.  Alcohol is the single biggest cause of accidents in the home and research has shown that even after alcohol has cleared from the blood stream, there is still a higher chance of being involved in an accident.  It is also a major cause of fires in the home. 

When we talk of decision-making, we’re also including impulsive behaviour such as unplanned sexual activity.  You probably all sat through the slide shows of sexually transmitted infections resulting in a wave of cringing in your school assembly.  The reality is that many STIs are on the rise, raising concerns about antibiotic immunity in some cases.  And worryingly, more than 50% of those admitted to hospital for self-harm or suicidal behaviour had been drinking prior to taking those actions.

Sometimes, it is lack of knowledge that impacts people.  It takes one hour for our bodies to process one unit of alcohol.  It’s therefore easy to see we one might still be over the limit when driving home in the morning after a heavy session.  No amount of coffee or greasy bacon will speed this up.

The key message is that the first part of our brains affected by alcohol is the thinking and reasoning centre.  Emotion is also heightened.  We all know the person who kicks off when they’ve been drinking, the person who sits crying in the corner or the one who becomes all love and hugs.  Instant gratification becomes more important that safety.  Keeping yourself safe doesn’t just mean not walking home by yourself late at night.  It means being cognisant enough to recognise your responsibility to others as well, such as keeping your hands to yourself and understanding cues relating to consent.  It means being aware of what comes out of your mouth and the actions you take.  Otherwise, there is a risk that the hangover will last longer than a day.

Our experience here in the Neighbourhood Engagement Team is that students regularly indulge in behaviours they regret due to drinking too much.  It is a regular story when students are brought in for interview due to complaints from their neighbours or the police.  It is the reason why the Alcohol Education Initiative was implemented.  The AEI is a course offered to students in the same way a Speed Awareness Course may be offered to someone at risk of three points on their licence.  It aims to educate about the risks of alcohol so that students may make different choices in order to avoid similar situations in the future.  Feedback is positive and we rarely see these students again.

So, what can you do to reduce the risks?

• Keep track of how many drinks you’re having. It is perfectly ok to switch to water or soft drinks, even when those around you continue to drink.
• Be aware of how different drinks affect you so you can make choices that allow you to keep control of situations. Bubbly drinks, for example, will go to your head quicker.
• Consider the reasons you’re drinking.  Is because of anxiety in social settings, to reduce stress or because you feel you can’t say no to the people around you? Wellbeing Services may be able to help without the impact of a hangover.
• Don’t leave your drink unattended. If someone is buying you a drink, accept it directly from the bar staff.  If you are concerned about a drink being tampered with, speak to staff.
• Plan in advance how you are getting home and prepare for the conditions. You may not feel the cold if you have been drinking but will still be affected by it.

Find out more information by making use of the resources available.  This blog contains references found on the Alcohol and You NI website Alcohol and You Northern Ireland, help and support for anyone with alcohol.Alcohol and You Northern Ireland (alcoholandyouni.com) and the Ascert NI website RETHINK YOUR DRINK | ASCERT

Also please remember, if you or a friend are struggling with dependency or addiction issues,  Queen's Wellbeing Service can provide a safe and confidential space to talk while helping you access internal or external supports.