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Acknowledgements/Contribution/FundingMr Matt Fossey, Director of the Veteran and Families Institute, Anglia Ruskin University has contributed to the design of this study.The Royal British Legion has part funded this project.
AbstractBackground
Pre-Drinking (PD) has been highlighted as a global health concern. It is normalised behaviour for undergraduate (UG) university students, with heavy episodic drinking frequently reported. This paper provides an insight into which sociocultural determinants of PD influence motivation amongst UG university students. It also determines the relationship between PD and drinking games (DGs), and investigates the hypothesis that availability of inexpensive alcohol increases PD.
An anonymous online questionnaire was sent to undergraduate students in the UK, mainland Europe and Singapore and 351 students (mean age 21.8 years) participated. Results highlighted that 93.7% of students participated in PD and that the trends of PD and DG playing are interlinked. Participants identified ‘before going out’ as a situation for playing DGs, indicating PD taking place. Findings corroborate that PD by university students is normalised behaviour, supporting determined drunkenness, a culture of intoxication, and insights into the relationship between PD and positives and pleasures.
Students state motives for PD are ostensibly for fun/pleasure, sociability, and cost reasons. Of participants, 73% identified ‘to pre-party’ as an important reason for DG playing. PD is prevalent and regarded as inexpensive, and fun. However, PD often results in detrimental effects on health and wellbeing which should not be underestimated. Harm reduction strategies, therefore, need to be cognisant of the social norms, cultural factors and pleasures associated with PD and playing DGs.
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