University spirit: An epidemiology of student alcohol consumption at a scottish university

Background University students in Scotland have a reputation for excessive alcohol consumption. However, traditional estimates of student drinking behaviour have been limited. This study was designed to accurately record alcohol consumption and its consequences for students attending a Scottish university. Methods The study used a cross-sectional design with a convenience sample of students enrolled at the University of St Andrews (n = 419). Participants completed an online questionnaire which included an adapted Alcohol Timeline Followback measure to record type and number of alcoholic beverages consumed over a two week period. This was later converted to alcohol units using an online calculator tool. Further, participants completed the Alcohol Use Disorder Identification Test (AUDIT), and pluralistic ignorance items regarding alcohol. Results Our analysis suggests that almost one third of participants were drinking hazardous quantities of alcohol, and that consumption was characterised by ‘binge drinking', particularly on Fridays and Saturdays. Further, almost half of all participants had AUDIT scores identifying them as having either a hazardous or potentially dependent relationship with alcohol. There was also evidence of pluralistic ignorance regarding alcohol, such that on average students believed they consumed less alcohol and were less comfortable with the university drinking culture than an average student. Conclusions The study provides a snapshot of student drinking behaviour and suggests that many participants were drinking above recommended levels and indulging in binge-drinking. The adapted Alcohol Timeline Followback methodology is an improvement on traditional approaches, facilitating future (social norm) interventions that are based upon accurate data.