{"id":89060,"date":"2018-08-23T11:24:38","date_gmt":"2018-08-23T09:24:38","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.erasmusmagazine.nl\/en\/?p=89060"},"modified":"2025-12-19T11:23:04","modified_gmt":"2025-12-19T10:23:04","slug":"a-cantus-with-excessive-drinking-doesnt-belong-at-the-university","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.erasmusmagazine.nl\/en\/2018\/08\/23\/a-cantus-with-excessive-drinking-doesnt-belong-at-the-university\/","title":{"rendered":"\u2018A cantus with excessive drinking doesn\u2019t belong at the university\u2019"},"content":{"rendered":"

Figures from various sources including Statistics Netherlands reveal that almost one in five students is an excessive drinker. While copious amounts of beer are once again flowing during Eurekaweek, a physician and a prevention worker \u2013 both professionally involved in the prevention and treatment of excessive alcohol consumption among young people \u2013 are advocating for a cultural shift among students. Their message: alcohol should no longer be seen as a condition for enjoying social interactions.<\/p>\n

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\n\t\n\n<\/svg>\n<\/span>\n\tImage by:<\/span>\n\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\tEurekaweek 2018<\/span>\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t<\/p>\n<\/figcaption><\/figure>

Time for a cultural shift<\/h2>
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On its own initiative, the Eurekaweek Organising Committee decided to open the beer taps two hours later this year and to curtail the visibility of alcoholic brands during the induction period. A good start, according to the specialists, but at the same time they point out the role of the university in bringing about this cultural shift: \u201cAs a university you\u2019re in a position to set an example that could have an impact on students.\u201d<\/p>\n

Among young people up to the age of twenty-five, the percentage of excessive drinkers is highest among students. This was revealed in a study conducted by the Netherlands Institute of Mental Health and Addiction in 2015<\/u><\/a>. \u201cThe emphasis on alcohol as a social lubricant is pervasive among students,\u201d says Marjolijn van de Merwe, a physician at the outpatient clinic for youth and alcohol-related problems at Maasstad Hospital in Rotterdam. She feels that students often think they know how alcohol affects them but observes that, in practice, few of them are aware of the risks of excessive alcohol consumption. For example, five servings of alcohol consumed within two hours could lead to a critical point where you can \u2018black out\u2019. And alcohol consumed under the age of twenty-three causes extra damage to the brain.<\/p>\n

Marcella Delissen, senior prevention worker at Youz and a specialist in substance abuse among youth, points out the importance of raising much more awareness among students. She sees Eurekaweek as a good moment to make efforts to bring about a cultural shift among students. \u201cThe induction week is a good opportunity to spread information on the risks associated with alcohol consumption and promote the idea that alcohol and education don\u2019t go hand in hand.\u201d<\/p>\n\t

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When are you an excessive drinker?<\/strong><\/p>\n

The Netherlands Institute of Mental Health and Addiction uses the term \u2018excessive alcohol consumption\u2019 to refer to consuming a specified 14 glasses of alcohol per week for women and 21 glasses per week for men. The related term for \u2018heavy alcohol consumption\u2019 refers to consuming 5 or 6 glasses of alcohol during a single occasion. These amounts are harmful to your health and increase the chances of developing an addiction.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\t<\/div>\n

Two hours less for serving beer<\/h2>

According to Delissen and Van de Merwe, changes also need to be made to the traditional cantus evening held in the examination hall. The cantus shouldn\u2019t be organised on the university campus, feels Van de Merwe, making a comparison with her hospital where alcoholic drinks are not served at hospital functions. \u201cOf course, a cantus evening with songs is a lot of fun, but as a university you\u2019re expected to adopt a more critical stance concerning alcohol. As Erasmus University you\u2019re in a position to set an example that could have an impact on students.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\t

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Earlier EM spoke with freshmen about alcohol and the introduction period <\/h2>\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t