When told about the results stating that 40 per cent of those surveyed drink two to three times a week, Ahearn stated that he wasn’t surprised saying that it represents student life and felt that the volume reflected the consumer aspect of student drinking.
“The price is reflecting the survey. The consumption is reflecting the survey; that the cheaper the price, the more people drink and go out,” explains Ahearn. “Also you have to bear in mind off-licences as well. You can get a bottle of wine and which would represent four drinks in one night, which would cost about €7. There are a lot of variables regarding that survey.”
Another statistic that Ahearn was concerned about was the percentage of students who experienced a moment where they couldn’t remember part or all of a night out. While concerned about it, he felt that these students could learn from their experiences: “I still think individuals need to learn lessons from when those occasions occur so they can learn their limits. So when you’re educating someone in terms of alcohol awareness so that they can testify that; they themselves know their limits.”
However, he was adamant that society was the reason behind the university’s and country’s drinking problem. “Go to any major Irish town and you probably have more pubs than any other business. I come from a town where there are 55 pubs – double the amount of pubs than restaurants. It’s society and that’s where it comes from.”
Source: Quinton O'Reilly, The University Observer, 13/04/2011
Safer Student Nights
eBulletin
Poll
