Binge-drinking has rapidly become endemic in student life. Although health and safety risks are oftentimes associated with such a lifestyle, Njina Grant informs you of another risk students may want to avoid

To a university student, getting good grades and leaving with a degree that lands them an impressive job is just as important as having an active social life.

But many disregard the serious impact this lifestyle has on their studies. An article published in the Daily Mail (March 2008) suggests that binge-drinking is getting out of control in Britain.

One in four adults in Britain are binge-drinkers and the UK recently topped a poll as Europe’s heaviest alcohol consumers.

With exams approaching and added to that the three-week Spring Break, looking at the bottom of a bottle is not so much of a distant future for some students.

Last year, Gordon Brown spoke about the radical changes being put in place to tackle Britain’s binge-drinking epidemic, in The Independent newspaper.

The government said that they would be clamping down on promotions for university students and is also rethinking 24-hour drinking, amid fears that the promotion of cheap alcohol results in greater alcohol abuse.

But while there are many researches on the health and safety risk of binge-drinking and excessive partying, little has been said on how it is affecting students’ academics.

A student’s point of view

Rachael Niklas, news editor of The Smoke, a university-based newspaper, knows very well about this situation that is the cause of many students lagging behind in their studies.

“Many students I know constantly go out drinking even though they know they have a heavy load of work and should stay in and do it,” she says. “Trying to balance a social life and studies can sometimes prove difficult and students often feel the peer pressure from friends to go out instead of staying in to study,” she added.

With Facebook rapidly becoming the social networking hub for events, Rachael believes that events offering students cheap drinks and free entry to clubs/ bars are tempting and sound more fun than revising for students.

She recalls an incident with a student who consistently went out drinking each night and in the end failed his modules “because his nights out drinking were far more tempting”.

“In the end it worked out that they [his friends] had been doing the work but would balance their time and he now will only graduate a year later than all of his friends,” she informs.

Are universities, therefore, in any way responsible for curbing the amount of events they offer to students?

According to Rachael, it is difficult for the university to change the actions and lifestyle of students as university is meant to be a place where students are independent and learn to manage their time.

“It would be unfair for the Student’s Union to stop promoting student nights out as those students who do balance their time well should not be disadvantaged of nights out in and around London,” she explains.

However, universities could possibly make students aware of how to balance their social and work life.

Vox pop

Taken across three campuses of a well-known university, international students voice their opinions on the current situation.

Lynda: I have occasionally gone drinking with my friends and house parties as well. I can understand that peer pressure is a big factor in reaching to the point of binge-drinking. But for me, I have never gone over the limit, let alone let it affect my studies.

Anan: I have done binge-drinking before. It becomes especially easy when the university is offering drinks at a really cheap price. Which student is going to refuse that!

Charlie: I recently started social drinking and it was because of my friends at university. I sometimes felt left out when I could not go drinking with them because I know I am missing out on a lot.

Chris: I’ll admit that I messed up one of my courses because I was partying and binge-drinking a lot. Luckily, I was able to finish the others or my parents would have been really upset. I am disappointed that I failed a course though. Now, I try to balance my social life and my studies.

Francis: I have been out with friends but I’ve never done binge-drinking. I just don’t see the need for excessive drinking to enjoy myself. It is dangerous for my health and excessive drinking inhibits your reasoning and can put you in harm’s way.

*All names have been changed on request

Links

The Independent story

The Daily Mail article

Alcohol Concern

Alcoholics Anonymous

Drinkaware UK