A large majority of students regularly drink alcohol. There are more excessive drinkers (17 percent) among university students than in the general population (8.5 percent)[1]. There are concerns about alcohol consumption among students in higher education[2]. Alcohol consumption entails risks, such as enhanced aggressive behaviour and the physical damage in the long term. Specifically for students, their study performance might be negatively affected [3].
Research demonstrated that alcohol consumption among students actually declined during the corona crisis. This was shown by recent data collected at the beginning of May 2020 as part of a major international study involving nearly 3,000 students at Radboud University. One finding of the study was that 46 percent of the students drank less alcohol during the corona crisis than before (Figure 1). The average alcohol consumption among male students decreased from 8 to 6 units per week, and among female students from 4 to 3 units (Figure 2).
The social aspect of drinking disappeared
This is not to say that every student started drinking less alcohol during the corona crisis. Some students drank the same amount or even more, possibly due to boredom, stress or loneliness. That alcohol consumption amongst a large proportion of students decreased, can be explained by the social aspect that plays an important role in their alcohol consumption. The social activities that are of importance for creating an environment where students drink alcohol were virtually eliminated due to the corona crisis and the corresponding social distancing measures.
For many students, going to pubs and nightclubs is an important leisure activity, and many attend activities and festivals at which alcohol is consumed. In addition, social norms about alcohol use, encouragement of drinking by friends or the desire to drink with others all affect the amount of alcohol that is consumed[4]. Students saw their friends much less frequently; pubs and restaurants were closed and festivals and large gatherings were prohibited. As a result, these influences were much smaller.
Students also exercised less
However, the corona crisis also resulted in negative changes in the health behaviour of students. Although they started to drink less, students also began to exercise less frequently. The question is therefore whether the health benefits from decreased alcohol consumption are offset by these negative consequences of the crisis.
About 25 percent of the students exercised more, but 44 percent exercised less (exercise was defined as moderate physical activity such as cycling or walking at a normal pace). The degree of vigorous physical exertion also decreased. This is not surprising, given the reduced possibilities for this activity due to the closure of gyms and the temporary ban on team sports.
Will students permanently change their drinking habits?
The question is whether students will stick to their recently acquired healthy drinking habits, or whether they will revert to their old behaviour. After all, behaviour is learned and social norms regarding alcohol consumption can be deeply ingrained in students. On the other hand, students may notice that a period with less alcohol can improve their overall physical and mental health. It would be a good development if this shift towards moderate alcohol consumption continued, even if social contacts between students return to normal.
Hopefully, with the relaxation of the corona measures, students who became temporarily less active will start exercising and participating in sports more regularly, and students who began exercising more during the corona crisis will continue to do so. In short: if students make a lasting change in their behaviour regarding alcohol consumption and regularly exercise, than that offers a prospect for improved health.
This article by Sabien Dekkers, Ellen Verbakel and Jacqueline Vink previously appeared on Sociale Vraagstukken. Sabien Dekkers is a Master’s student in Sociology at Radboud University. Ellen Verbakel is professor of Sociology at Radboud University and Jacqueline Vink is professor of Special Education, also at Radboud University.
Photo: Louis Hansel @shotsoflouis via Unsplash.