The alcohol use of students in Wales :
from a socio-environmental context
perspective
Graham F Moore, Annie Williams, Laurence Moore & Simon
Murphy
Alcohol Policy and Social Norms Project
• Develop and pilot a social norms marketing campaign
• Develop and disseminate university
alcohol policy and practice document
• Carry out a Process evaluation to explore:
development/implementation project intervention ‘tools’
alcohol use students in Wales
22
Outline methods used to collect data about multi-level factors
Describe theoretical framework used for analysis
Set early study findings within one of the theoretical constructs
Consider whether use of theoretical framework promises to add
to understanding of the role of different factors in student alcohol
behaviours and norms
The role of alcohol in the lives of students at
Welsh Universities: Methods
4 participant universities
Focus group interviews (N = 14) with 55 students
from all year groups.
Describe your drinking over your time so far at university
Why do you and other students drink alcohol?
Anything in/around university you think affects your drinking?
Does this (town/area) affect how much you drink?
Methods (2)
Telephone interviews (n = 19) with university and NUS
staff.
What are your feelings about alcohol and students at your university?
Do you think it causes problems?
What kind of problems?
Any specific times, locations, student groups?
Methods (3)
Observational visits to main university campus and
surrounding area.
Where can students buy alcohol to drink on/off premises?
Associated adverts/drink promotions alcohol?
Is there a Student Union on campus?
Alcohol promotions on campus on visit day.
Socio-environmental context framework (Ward 2011)
Physical-geographical
Social
Temporal
Personal:Historical
University A
Physical/geographical: Outskirts of small town, no immediate
pubs or shops, no student focus/promotions
On campus: most 1st yr accommodation
SU not cheap: events Wed. Weekend quiet
SU shop sells alcohol
Going out = visiting large city (10 miles)
Good access to city, huge student focus.
‘battle of the uni’s’, events all week nights
‘Normal’ drinking:
1st years drink in hall, SU & town
years 2 & 3: accommodation & town.
‘going out means going out to [city], there’s always something, but getting home is expensive’
University B
Physical/geographical: Isolated town:
Poor travel links, next small town 50 mls.
On campus: all 1st years. 4 bars in
total, SU cheap, events once/week,
no alcohol in SU shop.
Locality, one shop sells alcohol.
Town, 52 pubs < one mile away
Constant promotions, sponsorships
‘Normal’ drinking:
1st years halls & SU and town
other years accommodation & town.
‘ we are a drinking university’
University C(1)
Physical/geographical: Small town 1/2 ml:.
Good travel links, nearest town 20 mls.
On campus: all 1st yrs, some others
SU cheap. Events 2 x/week. Few
promotions.
Neighbourhood no pubs or shops
‘Going out’ to town minimal,
Drinking pattern:
In halls/accommodation & on campus.
hall based parties very common
‘everyone knows everyone, it’s always someone’s birthday’
University C(2)
Physical/geographical: In centre small town:
V. poor travel links, nearest town 23 mls.
On campus: all 1st yrs, some others
SU cheap. 2 other bars, events weekly
Few promotions.
11 pubs & 2 off- licenses, little student
focus.
Drinking pattern:
In halls/accommodation & on campus
‘we go into local pubs for a quiet drink, but that’s all’
University D.
• Physical/geographical: V small town, sister campus in
city a 5 miles away. Bigger city b 15 mls.
Travel links poor.
SU 1 bar, alcohol cheap Events 1/week.
Locality nothing, town < I ml, few pubs
‘going out’ = city a has 1-2 events/ week
city b every weekly night.
Normal drinking:
In hall/accommodation, in cities.
‘[city’] has a couple of clubs I’d go out more if I lived in halls there’
Social norms and university geographical and
physical factors.
• Student norms affected by:
• Availability – number student nights on campus and off
campus
• Access to pubs & clubs, travel costs, time & availability
• Town & Gown relationship
• Price alcohol in SU & in town promotions.
Socio-environmental context model allows consideration of
wider factors affecting student alcohol use. Highlights interuniversity variability & need for individualised alcohol policy to
meet specific university contexts
Simon Murphy, Graham Moore, Annie Williams & Lawrence Moore. DECIPHer , School
of Social Sciences, Cardiff University, Cardiff, Wales
Ray Hodgson – ARUK
Gail Edwards, Adam Rees – NUSW
Rachel Brown – Project officer, NUSW
Prof. Jeff French – Social Marketing Consultant to Drinkaware
Chris Roberts, Cathy Weatherup, Marloes Holtkamp – Welsh Assembly Government
Kate Owen , Emma Healey – Drinkaware
The study was funded by ARUK ,and conducted by DECIPHer. A UKCRC PH
centre of excellence in conjunction with the NUS, the Welsh Government &
Drinkaware