Table 19: Attitudes to alcohol by gender

Response

Males

Females

%

%

It doesn't matter how much you 

Agree

22.9

16.2*

drink as long as you don't show 

Disagree

72.2

79.6

the effects

Don't know

4.9

4.2

Anyone might become violent if 

Agree

69.2

75.1*

they have too much to drink

Disagree

29.4

23.2

Don't know

1.4

1.7

When someone is drunk, they 

Agree

39.4

39.0

should not be considered as 

Disagree

59.6

58.6

responsible for their actions as 

Don't know

1.0

2.4

when they are sober.

Anyone can become alcohol 

Agree

78.0

85.2*

dependent.

Disagree

18.7

12.2

Don't know

3.3

2.6

*Significant between gender (p<.01)

4.9.3b. Drinking Habits

The proportion of non drinkers among students was 5%. The average age

when students started to drink was 15 years.  There were significant

differences between gender and across year in college. A higher proportion

of male students had started drinking before the age of 14 in comparison to

female students (Table 20).  A higher proportion of third year students (36%)

started drinking when they were 17 years or older in comparison to first

years (31%) and second year (32%) students.

Table 20: Age at onset of drinking by gender

Age at onset of  drinking

Males

Females

Total

%

%

%

Under 14

21.4

17.3

18.9*

15 16 years

46.9

48.6

48.0

17 or older

31.7

34.0

33.1

*Significant between gender (p<.05)

Beer was the preferred drink among 87% of male students. Female students

were more divided between beer (47%) and spirits (36%). Wine was more

popular among female students (17%) than male students (4%). Third year

students had a higher preference for wine and a lower preference for beer

in comparison to first and second year students. Third year female students

were less inclined to drink spirits in comparison to first and second year

female students.

40