Alcohol use and harm minimisation among university students: University college policy and management

Schofield, Toni, Brown, Rebecca, Lindsay, Jo, Giles, Fiona and Hepworth, Julie (2011). Alcohol use and harm minimisation among university students: University college policy and management. In: , 2011 TASA Conference: Local Lives/Global Networks: Program and abstracts. Annual conference of The Australian Sociological Association 2011, Newcastle, Australia, (163-164). 29 November-1 December 2011.

Author Schofield, Toni
Brown, Rebecca
Lindsay, Jo
Giles, Fiona
Hepworth, Julie
Title of paper Alcohol use and harm minimisation among university students: University college policy and management
Conference Paper Type Published Abstract
Conference name Annual conference of The Australian Sociological Association 2011
Conference location Newcastle, Australia
Conference dates 29 November-1 December 2011
Convener Steven Threadgold; Emma Kirby
Proceedings title 2011 TASA Conference: Local Lives/Global Networks: Program and abstracts
Place published Hawthorn, Vic., Australia
Publisher The Australian Sociological Association
Publication date 2011
Start page 163
End page 164
Total pages 2
Language eng
Abstract/Summary Informed by the NH&MRC (2009), the prevailing national policy approach to regulating alcohol consumption in Australia focuses on harm minimisation. One of the strategies adopted for promoting harm minimisation has involved public awareness campaigns that target young adults. Most such campaigns emphasise the negative consequences of excessive alcohol consumption and encourage steps to reduce harms. University students have been identified as being especially “at risk” of harmful alcohol use, particularly those who are University college residents. Yet little is known and understood about university students’ alcohol use and participation in harm minimisation activities, including the role of institutional players such as University colleges. This study examines approaches by University colleges in managing alcohol use and harm minimisation among student residents. Based on analysis of University college policy documents and interviews with 20 key informants in college management in Sydney and Melbourne, the study explores how college management understands students’ alcohol use and harm minimisation, and the measures they have adopted in minimising students’ harmful alcohol use. The paper describes the tensions that University college managements experience in navigating between institutional regulation and responsibility, and liberal ideals of student residents as individual citizens with rights and responsibilities in using alcohol. Informed by the NH&MRC (2009), the prevailing national policy approach to regulating alcohol consumption in Australia focuses on harm minimisation. One of the strategies adopted for promoting harm minimisation has involved public awareness campaigns that target young adults. Most such campaigns emphasise the negative consequences of excessive alcohol consumption and encourage steps to reduce harms. University students have been identified as being especially “at risk” of harmful alcohol use, particularly those who are University college residents. Yet little is known and understood about university students’ alcohol use and participation in harm minimisation activities, including the role of institutional players such as University colleges. This study examines approaches by University colleges in managing alcohol use and harm minimisation among student residents. Based on analysis of University college policy documents and interviews with 20 key informants in college management in Sydney and Melbourne, the study explores how college management understands students’ alcohol use and harm minimisation, and the measures they have adopted in minimising students’ harmful alcohol use. The paper describes the tensions that University college managements experience in navigating between institutional regulation and responsibility, and liberal ideals of student residents as individual citizens with rights and responsibilities in using alcohol.
Q-Index Code EX
Q-Index Status Provisional Code
Institutional Status UQ

Document type: Conference Paper
Sub-type: Published Abstract
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ERA 2012 Admin Only
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Created: Thu, 02 Feb 2012, 16:20:25 EST by Mary-Anne Marrington on behalf of School of Nursing and Midwifery