If the thought of uni had you looking forward to bar hopping, pres, and drunken nights out, you’d be the stereotypical 18-year-old itching to taste freedom away from home.
But there’s an equal chance that you prefer your social outings to not centre around alcohol, and with April being Alcohol Awareness Month, it’s the perfect time to understand why some students are swearing off spirits.
It’s common knowledge that drinking is an integral part of British culture and along with the prevalence of alcohol among the youth, universities are an epicentre for alcohol consumption.
Around 80% of students surveyed think that getting drunk is part of the university culture. After all, it is only expected when we’ve got pop culture and freshers events across the country glamorising knocking back shots.
It is so ingrained in student culture that even when we don’t feel like it, we tend to have a couple of drinks just to fit in or feel comfortable. 70% of students that took part in a survey in 2020 said they only drink to fit in with the crowd.
Disturbingly, the same survey found that 22% of students feel they are actively pressured by their peers to drink, so it appears that there is no escaping the stereotype. But, research actually suggests that drinking among the current generation of university-age students is on the decline.
Although the pandemic saw an increase in alcohol consumption, it hasn’t continued post-lockdown.
Compared to our elders, Gen-Z drink 20% less alcohol per capita and while we can’t certainly say what’s causing this, greater awareness over the negative impacts on our health, other recreational options & simply not being able to afford it are all possible reasons why the term “mocktails” has seen a jump in recent years.
A survey conducted in 2020 found that students in Sheffield spent on average £26 a month on alcohol, just above Manchester.
A separate study found that alcohol expenses on average doubled that of food per month as well.
But with the cost of living crisis forcing us to think twice before spending, many of us have cut corners on night outs and drinks.
It doesn’t have to be dispiriting that we’ve had to give up on the spirits though. Aside from saving us a couple of pounds here and there, it also saves us from the morning after regrets.
But the effects of alcohol are not limited to hangovers; it also has lasting impacts on our physical and mental health, the latter of which could already be in a vulnerable state for many, post-pandemic.
As students, it’s fair to say we use our brains quite a bit, which is why high levels of stress aren’t abnormal among those in higher education, and combining it with high levels of alcohol will only lead to a cocktail of problems.
Alcohol disrupts the neurotransmitters in the brain, slowing down the brain’s ability to process information and constant use of it can create a dependence on it. Considering that the drinking in the first year often continues on to the second, third and fourth years, it is easy to imagine that upon graduation, we’ve created quite a lot of damage.
April also happens to be Stress Awareness Month, so while we’re on the topic of alcohol abuse, we might as well discuss this other feature of student culture.
Battered after months in lockdown and with the threatening clouds of irreversible climate change and a cost of living crisis on the horizon, Gen-Z has had it hard. It is, unfortunately, unsurprising that mental health issues are rife amongst our generation.
In today’s atmosphere learning to manage stress can be the difference between graduating in a joyous state of mind or dropping out and although conversations about mental health have become less stigmatised and mental health services made more accessible, it is still hard to navigate the complicated process of getting help.
Alcohol is a common part of student life and as with everything, it’s best to not demonise it. Alcohol Awareness Month isn’t about intimidating us into not drinking but making us aware of its impacts on our physical and mental health.
As only you will know yourself best, perhaps take time to reflect on the last time you drank. Did you regret it the day after? Did it mean you missed a few lectures? Do you think you could enjoy a night out without alcohol? If you’re worried not drinking might mean your social life would dwindle, that’s not entirely true. Our SU has a range of societies that don’t involve drinking where you could still socialise.
On a more serious note, if you think you have an unhealthy relationship with alcohol, you can seek help at Project 6, a charity that supports unsafe alcohol and drug habits.
As we get to the end of the semester where exams and assignments keep us awake at the IC through the early hours of the day, it’s also a good time to check in with your stress levels and your friends.
It could be as simple as taking a 15-minute break after an intense study session, taking a walk in one of the various parks in Sheffield or even having a big night out. But keep in mind that if drinking is the way you choose to unwind, indulging excessively does have adverse effects on your health.
If you think you need professional help with stress or other mental health issues, you can explore the support offered by both the university and the NHS.
April is both alcohol and stress awareness month and while the conversation surrounding these two issues gets popular this month, it is critical that we keep the conversation going throughout the year.