UK launches project to tackle binge drinking at universities

LONDON: A radical new project designed to tackle the culture of binge drinking at universities across England and Wales has been launched in the UK which aims to reduce alcohol-fuelled crime and disorder along with preventing health harms.

Seven universities have signed up to a 12 month pilot scheme launched by the Home Office and the National Union of Students to encourage responsible drinking among students.

Loughborough, Nottingham, Manchester Met, Liverpool John Moores, Swansea, Brighton and Royal Holloway universities are hoping to gain accreditation under the National Union of Students (NUS) Alcohol Impact Scheme for their work in promoting responsible alcohol policy and practice.

Accreditation will be awarded to universities which meet a set of criteria committing them to actions such as preventing alcohol-related initiation ceremonies, tackling student participation in pub crawls and monitoring anti-social behaviour.

Responsible drinking communications campaigns, formal training for university staff on alcohol harms and developing social alternatives to licensed premises are also among the criteria which the universities will work towards.

Crime prevention minister Norman Baker said, "Binge drinking at universities is nothing new but that doesn't mean it is a good idea. Some students find themselves encouraged to participate in alcohol fuelled activities which can damage health and in some cases spill over into disorder and anti-social behaviour."

The NUS will monitor the success of the scheme through detailed surveys comparing student experiences of crime and disorder as well as tracking crime rates during the period of the pilot.

Alcohol consumption rate in UK is higher than previously thought with more than three quarters of people in England drinking in excess of the recommended daily alcohol limit.