Slovak university student perceptions of alcohol policy on their campuses.

Ferdinand Salonna1, Natália Sedlák Vendelová1, Bart Vriesacker2, Guido Van Hal2

1 Department of Educational Psychology and Health Psychology, Faculty of Arts, Safarik University, Kosice, Slovakia

2 Research Group Medical Sociology and Health Policy, Department of Epidemiology and Social Medicine, University of Antwerp.

BACKGROUND

Initiative “on Campus Alcohol Policy (oCAP) “

University of AntwerpUniversity of Miskolc

University Hospital in RouenUniverity of PJ Safarik in Košice

BACKGROUND

There are formal alcohol policies at universities in Slovakia.

Mostly non-systematic and often not implemented in practice.

OBJECTIVE

To explore student attitudes towards alcohol policy on their campus.

KEY QUESTIONS

• “Is there a policy concerning alcohol on your campus and what are the consequences hereof?”

• “How should an on campus alcohol policy be developed and what should be the content?”

METHODS

8 focus group discussions, winter 2011,

64 participants (8 per group; 38 females),

university students, 6 faculties at 2

universities in Košice, Slovakia,

No abstainers

Fewer than 15% problem drinkers (CAGE).

YESInstitutional and moral obligation

“Who else then?““If they (the university management) let it be, then they agree with it. “

Good opportunity to intervene

“Last chance, before entering the labour market.“

“School is a bubble, enclosed space where they can try things.“

Should the universities / colleges engage in the prevention of alcohol consumption?

YESEffect on the quality of the educational process

Effect on quality of life and health of college students

Prevention of material damage

Should the universities / colleges engage in the prevention of alcohol consumption?

NOAlcohol consumption is just not a problem

Universities are not responsible for the students' behaviour

High cost, money should be rather used for education

Questionable efficiency, counterproductive

Should the universities / colleges engage in the prevention of alcohol consumption?

Type of academic environment and alcohol consumption

Halls of Residence• perceived as „home“; • private space where it is not suitable to restrict

the alcohol consumption with regulations, • Matter of individual personal freedom

"Like, of course, when I go to exercise, or to a lecture, so of course there should not be (alcohol), but at the halls it is not possible to prohibit it..." 5/40

Type of academic environment and alcohol consumption

University premises where education itself is carried out

• In contrast to halls, it is perceived as a place where you do your „job“,

• Professional environment, public space, • It was implicitly clear that alcohol absolutely

does not belong belongs here.

FORMAL RULES

Ignorance/lack of information about formal rules/banning alcohol on university premises.

„They certainly exist," „They must exist," „They are written somewhere,"

"I read them somewhere, I don't know where."

“I do not know whether it is in the university rules, that the student are not allowed to attend lectures under the influence

of alcohol ” 2/18

FORMAL RULES

• Existing rules are perceived as in conflict with the experiences

"It is forbidden, but it's tolerated.”• Ignoring the rules

" So I think that the situation, as it is now is bad. If someone violates a rule, e.g. comes in drunk for a lecture, and it isn't dealt with then no-one else is afraid to come in drunk. Because after all, nothing will come of it, no problem /consequences. The fact that those students are not obeying the rules, is wrong."

INFORMAL RULES

• informal rules "apply" and also have a control system and its specific informants;

• particular forms are associated with general social rules."That if you drink, do it in silence, and afterwards clean up all

the mess, the empty bottles must be taken to the containers outside the building. It was a rule. It was the cleaning lady, who pointed this out if by chance we would like to drink. "2/20

" No bottles, no problem. "

In between formal and informal rules

Student policeInformal/formal system of control and assistance in situations associated with alcohol drinking, disturbance of night silent hours or damaging the university property;Only at some halls of residence (mostly at the Technical unieversity in Košice)

Part of students' union, different extent of institutionalization

Motivation - free accommodation points, free internet or gym, discount on accommodation

In between formal and informal rules

“After ten in the evening you have to be quiet. When an event is announced, it may be tolerated until midnight. But if there's a big mess, they will

finish it earlier. Those student cops. And it is dealt with by taking the accommodation points. "5/18

“ They have enough respect. They come to the room and no one dares to run away, because you have nowhere to escape. When they catch you while you are running, you will have a much bigger problem. They take your accommodation card and the next day you go to the student council. About 12 people sit there and they wonder what you did. “ 3/231

Student police• Respected as formal and also informal authority• Sometimes you can negotiate the rules• Main complaint about corruption or abuse of

their position“ But those in the Student Council, or the police they do not respect them (the rules). There is nobody to punish them. They can also have a party until 1 AM, it does not matter to anyone. They disturb others, making noise, at any time they want, even after 2AM or later. “ 5/308

“Cleaning up “

In between formal and informal rules

In between formal and informal rules

Possible actions of universities in prevention of alcohol consumption – according students

Community actionepisodic – „nonalcoholic“ concerts, awareness raising lecturessystematic - tutoring, student police, counseling

Public awareness-raisingsubjects / courses that focus on healthy lifestyle

The marketing of alcoholic beveragesban on alcohol advertising in academic premises

discussion about alcohol industry sponsorship

Possible actions of universities in prevention of alcohol consumption – according students

Monitoring and evaluationCurrent research in this areaFocus also on the students kicked out of school / students house (what was role of "student life?")

The availability of alcoholA total ban on alcohol in premises of teaching and during learning time.

Private academic space - by no means a complete ban.

Availability by type of beverage (beer - yes, wine - maybe, not spirits)

Consistent enforcement of existing norms

Possible actions of universities in prevention of alcohol consumption – according students

Drinking environmentsOrganizational and physical adjustments (cameras, student police)The definition of premises where respecting the agreed standards is possible to consume alcoholSocial norms

Drink–drivingAlcohol testers on campuses

CONCLUSION

Students are not essentially against an alcohol policy which even integrates certain alcohol regulation on campus.

Prevention policy which actively involves students’ participation was emphasized as optimal.

When taking into account the student self-government, interesting system of managing the problems connected to

alcohol consumption could evolve.

“COPS“

“COPS“

Thank you for your attention!

AknowledgementWith financial support from the Government Office of Slovak republic under the grant program for initiatives and activities in the national drug strategy for 2011.