College C (Compiled following interviews with: the Student Health

Service Nurse, the Chaplain, and the President / Welfare Officer of the

Student Union)

  This is a medium sized institute of technology which was not represented

on the national working group and was relatively late to draft an alcohol

policy;  motivation for now doing so appears to have originated in

adverse local publicity concerning student drinking during a recent Rag

Week.

  A lengthy policy document has now been drafted, following a

consultation process  which  involved academics, student services and

the student union, as well as outside consultation with the regional health

board and an Garda Siochana.  Restrictions on advertising and

sponsorship are already in force,  although the policy as a whole has yet

to be officially ratified.  

  While acknowledging that a great deal of work has gone into the draft

policy, student union and student service personnel were not convinced

that college management has taken ownership of the process. 

  Student drinking nights are described as starting with home consumption

of drink bought in off licences, followed by further drinking in a pub,

followed   frequently   by yet more drinking in a club.  Thursday night is

the big student drinking night in this college and is commonly linked to

poor attendance at lectures on Friday morning. 

  At present this college has no bar on campus but, during the

consultation process leading to the draft alcohol policy,  there was

interesting debate on the merits of including a bar in the college's

building programme;  while some would see such a development as

encouraging student drinking, others have argued that on campus

drinking would be more closely monitored and safer than the drinking

which currently goes on outside the campus.  It was felt that at least

some of the public nuisance problems associated with  Rag Week

drinking had been caused by irresponsible drinks promotions run by local

publicans. 

  There are plans to build on existing relationships with the regional health

board addiction counselling and health promotion services so as to offer

students more alcohol education and awareness.  

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