Liverpool John Moores University

& Liverpool Students’ Union

Alcohol Impact Project

2014-2015

Professor Karen Hughes

Professor of Behavioural Epidemiology

Centre for Public Health at LJMU

• Academic Board member.

• Spotted gap in research regarding nightlife.

• In 2014/2015 a student submitted a proposal for an undergraduate dissertation on “students’

expectations and experience of alcohol on entrance to university for ethical approval”.

• Limited resource for Alcohol Impact in Liverpool John Moores University.

• Funding for PhD on alcohol related issues including Alcohol Impact, interviewed for position and

allocated.

• 11 funded PhDs in 2014/2015 at LJMU.

Nikki Gambles

PhD student

Centre for Public Health at LJMU

“A mixed methods investigation of the relationships between university life and drinking behaviours

amongst Liverpool John Moores University students”

• Nikki has recently begun the first year of an MPhil to transfer to PhD

• Supervised by Professor Karen Hughes.

• Nikki’s PhD will focus on the impact of university life on student drinking behaviours; the

research will observe what impact these behaviours have on student’s health and well-being

and whether these factors vary across the different levels of study.

• 231 responses in first wave of her survey – compliments the central NUS surveys.

The partnership provides formal training relating to responsible alcohol consumption.

Liverpool City Council delivered ‘Knock back training’ through their Alcohol & Tobacco Unit’s

Enforcement Team on:

• Challenge 21 and acceptable ID

• Due diligence in operating a refusal system

• Explaining the role of the DPS

• Consequences of serving inebriated and underage customers

• Explaining mandatory conditions

• Proxy sales

Additional employability benefits to students within LJMU.

The partnership has taken action to reduce, or restrict the advertising of alcoholic beverages

on and/or around campus.

Prohibited products, services and advertisers:

Advertising should not promote any of the following:

• Unlicensed drugs, pharmaceuticals or medical services.

• Adult services i.e. sexually orientated products or services.

• Alcoholic drinks.

• Gambling.

• Loans and speculative financial products.

• Weapons, violence or anti-social behaviour of any description.

Alcohol Impact Steering Group

• External

• Events & Engagement Worker at the Brink, Liverpool’s dry bar.

• University Police Officer at Merseyside Police.

• Director of Cool It Events.

• Enforcement Officer at Liverpool City Council.

• Sexual Health Co-ordinator at Liverpool City Council.

• Manager at Liverpool Student Homes.

• LJMU

• Research Assistant at Centre for Public Health.

• Nightlife Research Manager at Centre for Public Health.

• Student Accommodation Manager at LJMU.

• Press Officer at LJMU.

• Director of Student Advice & Wellbeing Services at LJMU.

• Professor of Behavioural Epodemiology at LJMU.

The partnership has taken action to tackle or redress student participation in commercial pub

crawls and/or social media drinking games.

Creation of Clubs & Societies Social Events Policy

Contained information on:

• Initiations being banned

• Ban on peer pressure

• Sanctions possible from both the University and Merseyside Police.

The partnership is proactively working with off-campus licensed premises and retailers to

ensure their operations encourage responsible and safe alcohol consumption and activity by

students.

Working with local Promotions Agency – Cool It Events

• Able to distinguish a great deal of information from conversations with Cool It.

• Student nights in Liverpool are now either ‘price driven’ or ‘music driven’.

• Ensuring that medically trained staff are at all event nights.

• Council crackdown on binge drinking within the city.

• What Steering Group is working on now.

• Local licensed premises.

• Pub Watch & Licensee Watch – Liverpool Citysafe.

The partnership is proactively working with off-campus licensed premises and retailers to

ensure their operations encourage responsible and safe alcohol consumption and activity by

students.

From working with the Steering Group, Cool It Events have also:

• Promoted the Safe Taxi scheme to LJMU patrons.

• Worked with designers to ensure all marketing material carries a ‘drink responsibly’ tagline.

• Considering running their own campaigns related to student safety in NTE.

• Commercial sense in running presentations.

• Worked with Liverpool City Council on licensing changes.

• Been open to discussing other issues that students face in the NTE.

• Issues in other bars they have affiliations with.

• Retendered for contract on Fresher’s events – awaiting outcome.

• Been more amenable to working with us on things like Alcohol Impact.

Working with the BA (Hons.) Media Culture Communications programme, specifically the

Public Communications module, this allowed us to meet several criteria:

• The partnership has taken proactive steps to establish, develop and promote a contemporary

student identity based on responsible alcohol consumption.

• Within the last six months, the partnership has delivered proactive communications to reinforce

social norms around responsible alcohol consumption.

• Within the past six months, the partnership has proactively engaged generic students in Alcohol

Impact.

#MakeItOut campaign

• 70% grade for students in group.

• Used across campus and in halls.

• Great feedback received from students and staff.

• Further collaborative work planned.

• 4 week placement offer to students.

• #wasitreallyworthit campaign.

• September launch or post-exams.

• Effects/consequences of the previous night’s activity.

Within the last six months, the partnership has proactively engaged with target

representatives of sports clubs and societies on alcohol consumption

• PhD student in Sports & Exercise Science delivered a session on alcohol and sport performance

during Club Captain’s training with 50+2 committee members attending.

• Focused on:

• Muscle protein and building

• Alcohol ingestion and myofibrillar protein synthesis

• Calorie intake

• Testosterone release delay

• 73% reduction in fat burning

• Glycogen

• Urine production vs. sports performance

Going forward:

• Mocktail bars on campus during assessment periods

• #WasItReallyWorthIt campaign

• Interventions

• Fresher’s events

• Further work with new accommodation partners

• Contractually obliged to support SU initiatives