The findings of a health and lifestyle survey involving third-level students, which were published yesterday, have implications that go far beyond university life. The pattern of behaviour of these young adults reflects, to a large extent, the inadequacies of the health, education and screening services being provided by the State to pupils during second-level schooling and an unwillingness by the Government to ban alcohol advertising.
Alcohol abuse is at the heart of many of the problems identified by this survey of students at 21 colleges. And the social malaise feeds into other areas.
The findings should come as no surprise in light of the widespread misuse of alcohol at all levels of Irish society and the social disruption and public order offences which have attended a rapid increase in disposable incomes. What is particularly worrying, however, is that third-level students are drinking more than their peer group in the rest of society, and many of them regard regular binge-drinking as part of normal social activity.
Back in 2001, the then minister for health and children, Micheál Martin, published details of a college alcohol policy which was designed to provide support services for students while counteracting alcohol promotion and excessive consumption on campus.
Some good work has been done as a consequence. But, in light of the fact that student expenditure on alcohol has doubled during the past five years, much more assertive action is obviously required of the Government.
Male and female students in their first and second years at college were found to be particularly susceptible to alcohol abuse and binge-drinking. Drunkenness led to unprotected sex, depression, mental health problems and poor study patterns.
Students were found to be working twice as long at jobs outside college in order to pay for this lifestyle, while devoting less time to studying. More money was spent on drink than on food by male students. And high-risk drinking, adopted as a sign of masculinity, was reinforced by alcohol advertising.
These young people are the elite of our society and will become future leaders and role models. The transition from second to third-level education is a stressful time, with many students moving away from home and parental supervision.
But if these bright young people are so ill-prepared for that rite of passage, what does it say about their less fortunate friends? There is a need to treat alcohol abuse, mental health, depression and unprotected sex in a far more comprehensive way during second-level education. Part of that Government programme should involve a ban on alcohol advertising.