College B (Case study compiled following interviews with: President of

Student Union, Welfare Officer of Student Union, and Student Service

Manager) 

  This is a medium sized university which has not traditionally had a

reputation for heavy student drinking.  The college was represented on

the national working group and subsequently drafted and formally

approved a brief alcohol policy document, which is mainly concerned

with restricting the number of free drinks which student societies can

provide at functions within college, as well as the way in which such

functions are advertised. Takings from the college bar have been down

over the past few years and, anecdotally, there is much less day time

drinking in college than there used to be; this, however,  is primarily

attributed to the introduction of semesterisation and to the fact that a

much greater proportion of students are now pursuing their first choice

academic options than previously, rather than to the introduction of the

college alcohol policy. 

  No serious opposition has been raised to the policy, which was drafted

by student services in consultation with student societies and the student

union, even though decreased profits from the college bar have resulted

in substantial losses of income for student societies.  A new common

room which is  to be alcohol free is currently being built, but otherwise

there are no plans for college investment in alternative events or

facilities.  Some alcohol awareness is carried out,  but neither student

services nor the student union seem convinced of its value. 

  It was unanimously believed that local bars and off licences had taken

commercial advantage of the curtailment of drinks promotions on

campus by targeting the student market, and there were fears that this

might lead to riskier student drinking off campus, both at house parties

and in pubs and clubs. 

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