Hands up if you’ve ever been so drunk you’ve done something completely mortifying?
That’s pretty much everyone then.
But would you welcome steps to curb your drinking whilst at university?
Is talk of the ‘binge drinking epidemic’ sweeping through university towns just media hysteria?
According to a recent article in The Independent, the majority of head teachers feel that universities are failing in their duty of care by ignoring binge drinking and providing limited personal support to students.
In the wake of the survey, recommendations such as tougher action on binge drinking and wellbeing classes have been suggested.
Some students’ unions are already endorsing alcohol free events and Cardiff University Students’ Union has gone even further, tagging drunken students with yellow wristbands that say: ‘How did you get home?’
At 18 students are adults, free to make their own choices. Is it really necessary for educational institutions to intervene in their social and personal lives?
The statistics suggest that it is. Between 2007 and 2011 the number of female students who committed suicide doubled and the number of male students who took their lives increased by 36 per cent.
Any links between these increases and the prevalence of drinking culture seem tenuous, but there is an argument for more support for vulnerable students.
There are proposals for all universities to assign personal tutors to first year students, although whether academics are best placed to provide emotional and psychological counsel is questionable.
Whatever steps are taken, student wellbeing needs to be the priority.
We would love to hear what you think about this issue. Do you think your university should take steps to discourage binge drinking? Would you want to go to an alcohol free event at the students’ union?
Leave you comments here, tweet us @GlideStudent or post on our Facebook page.