News & Media

Researchers from the Sheffield Addictions Research Group (SARG) recently presented their findings on youth and student drinking trends at the Student Health Association Annual Conference, held from Sunday 29 June to Tuesday 1 July 2025 in Sheffield.

Dr Laura Fenton, Professor John Holmes and Dr Shangshang Gu delivered a joint presentation entitled 'Student drinking in the United Kingdom: Evidence from recent quantitative and qualitative studies.' Their session provided insights into how alcohol consumption patterns are evolving among young people and the specific implications for university students.

The presentation addressed the decline in alcohol consumption among young people in the UK since the early 2000s, exploring its complex impacts on university student drinking cultures. The SARG team discussed changes in youth drinking over recent decades, the ongoing role of heavy drinking in student belonging, and the influence of social approval on first-year students' alcohol consumption. They also offered suggestions for intervention strategies.

Highlights from their presentations included:

• Trends in youth drinking: John Holmes discussed the decline in youth drinking, drawing on both quantitative and qualitative evidence. He presented international data showing this decline across Europe, the British Isles, Australasian countries, Canada, and the United States. This work directly connects to the themes explored in the new book, "Young People, Alcohol, and Risk: A Culture of Caution", which he co-authored with Laura Fenton. The book explains how multiple factors, including social media, economic concerns, health trends, and new parenting approaches, contribute to a more cautious approach to alcohol among young people.
  
  
• Student drinking and belonging: Laura Fenton presented qualitative evidence on student drinking, focusing on how heavy drinking can still be central to students finding a sense of belonging at university. Her research highlighted unique aspects of student life, such as living in purpose-built student housing and participating in sports societies, that can encourage heavier drinking and potentially exclude non- or low-drinkers. Laura is lead author of a related paper on university students, alcohol and belonging which explores these dynamics.
  
  
• Social Approval and Student Drinking (The SAND Study): Shangshang Gu shared key findings from the Sheffield Alcohol and Network Dynamics (SAND) Study, a longitudinal project tracking first-year students' drinking, perceived social norms, and social network dynamics. Her research found that students consistently overestimate how much their peers drink and their approval of risky drinking behaviours. While these misperceptions had limited impact on individual drinking, the study found strong evidence for social influence, meaning students' drinking habits adapted to their peers rather than them choosing friends based on drinking. The SAND study also identified "freshers' month" as a critical window for intervention.

The SARG team concluded their session by proposing intervention strategies, including targeting first-year students with more alcohol-free social opportunities , focusing on correcting descriptive social norms in freshers' month , and supporting WHO's 'best buys' for alcohol policy like increasing prices and restricting advertising and availability.

About the conference

The Student Health Association is a charity which aims to promote the highest possible level of health for students studying at University and advance health education for all that work in student healthcare. The 76th Annual Student Health Association Conference was organised by the University Health Service in Sheffield and featured workshops and talks covering a wide range of health-related topics.