Campus boozing hits a high

Assocham survey says drinking up 60% in hostels but 45-plus sobering down

NEW DELHI: It’s hic, hic, hurray in Indian universities. Easy money from parents and poor vigilance by wardens has resulted in big time boozing in college hostels, finds a survey conducted by the Associated Chambers of Commerce and Industry of India (ASSOCHAM).

The findings may ring alarm bells for parents and educators as they claim that while the alcohol intake among the 19-26 age group has overall risen over the last 10 years, it has particularly increased by about 60% among college hostellers. Women were also found to be increasingly getting addicted to liquor to “overcome fatigue and isolation”.

On the contrary, alcohol consumption in the 45-plus age group has gone down by almost 80%. This section has turned health conscious to effectively respond to responsibilities at work and home.

The survey of more than 3,000 hostellers between 19 and 26 and senior professionals aged over 45  found that the main reasons for rising liquor consumption among students were easy availability of money and liquor, and poor monitoring by the authorities concerned.

Major cities where the survey was conducted included Mumbai, Kochi, Chennai,  Hyderabad, Indore, Patna, Pune, Delhi, Chandigarh and Dehradun, besides the state of Goa. It found that consumption of liquor was more in vogue in Delhi and Gurgaon followed by Chandigarh, Mumbai, and Hyderabad. It is not as significant in Indore, Patna, Dehradun and Kochi.

Students were found to be spending on an average Rs10,000 to Rs12,000 annually on alcohol and cigarettes. Eight out of 10 students who lived in hostels turned to liquor as against 4 out of 10 who lived with their parents.

More than 35% of teenagers who admitted to drinking said they drank when they were upset, 20% said they drank alone, 15% said they drank when they were bored, and 30% said they drank to “get high.”

The survey said that 40% of students in the age group of 18-24 drank five or more drinks on one occasion and about 24% of them drank once or twice a week. In the 25-38 age group, drinking was usually five or more units. Universities and colleges had higher and heavier episodic drinking rates than the general population. Youngsters most likely to binge drink frequently were students living on campus and those belonging to fraternities or sororities.

It was found that 17-18 year olds started experimenting with alcohol usually within their family environment. This was seen as reflecting a desire, particularly among boys, to move from child to adult status. The 19-26 year olds preferred to drink outside the family environment and were more secretive. The 27-38 year olds were found to be more open with their parents about drinking and saw it as a sign of maturity and experience. Peer group pressure was often viewed a major factor influencing alcohol use in young people. 

The main factors believed to influence young people’s drinking pattern included parental drinking. The children of parents who had an alcohol problem were more likely to have children who drank heavily, the survey said. However, problem drinking in parents did not necessarily always resulted in alcohol problems among children.

Women between 18 and 35 were found to be drinking more units of alcohol than they were in 1998. Men in the age group of 18-38, who drank alcohol, were now consuming on an average 12 units per week, or six pints of beer. And 71% of those interviewed said they consumed alcohol during business dinners, out of whom 35% consumed more alcohol than usual on such occasions.

Rural families spend about 27% of their income and urban families 38% on alcohol. Youth in both areas were taking to alcohol on a very large scale and the trend was on the rise.

17-18 olds start experimenting with alcohol usually within their family environment

19-26 olds drink secretly outside the family environment

27-38 olds are more open with their parents about drinking

About 30% of respondents said that they never drink alcohol, 40% drink it occasionally, and 30% drink frequently. Among frequent drinkers, about 68% drink alcohol once or twice a month, 24% once a week, about 6% twice a week, and 2% daily. Among the occasional drinkers, more than 40% drink alcohol twice a year or less frequently, and about 60% drinking three to six times a year.

Each year, students spend on an average Rs.10,000- Rs.12,000- on alcohol and cigarettes.

Consumption of liquor was more in vogue in Delhi and Gurgaon followed by Chandigarh, Mumbai and Hyderabad. It is not as significant in cities like Indore, Patna , Dehradun and Kochi.

More than 35% of teens who admitted drinking said they drink when they are upset, 20% said they drink alone, 15% said they drink when they are bored, and 30% said they drink to “get high.”

Women aged 18-35 were found to be drinking more alcohol than they were in 1998. Men in the age group of 18-38 were now consuming on an average 12 units per week, or six pints of beer.

71% consumed alcohol during business dinners, out of whom 35% consumed more alcohol than usual on such occasions.