As alcoholic liver disease rises, particularly in younger people, fewer than one in 10 college students said they would curb their drinking for the good of their health.
However, students are twice as likely to reduce their drinking because of the cost — one in five said price would influence their consumption.
The survey of first year UCC students was discussed at the Irish Society of Gastroenterology’s (ISG) annual winter meeting in Dublin. The ISG has urged the introduction of legislation aimed at curbing excessive drink consumption.
The research is worrying as there was a trebling of hospital admissions of patients with alcoholic liver disease from 1995 to 2010.
Nearly 40% of students admitted going out with the intention of getting drunk.
Asked what would cause them to drink less, 29% said sports participation and 21% said an increase in the price of alcohol, while 19% said exam preparation.
The study found students would often have more than six drinks on a night out.
Source: Irish Examiner, 22/11/14
The vast majority (96%) consumed alcohol and spent an average of €20 a week on drinks.
Drinkers aged 18 to 29 have the highest level of alcohol consumption among drinkers — two out of five binge drink weekly.
The ISG has warned that hospital admissions and deaths due to alcohol continue to surge.
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