“When You Add Alcohol, It Gets That Much Better”

• Author: Ross Hebden,Tim McCreanor,Ian Goodwin,Antonia C. Lyons
• Date: 01 April 2015
• DOI: 10.1177/0022042615575375
• Published date: 01 April 2015
• Subject Matter: Articles

Journal of Drug Issues

2015, Vol. 45(2) 214 –226

© The Author(s) 2015

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DOI: 10.1177/0022042615575375

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Article

“When You Add Alcohol, It Gets

That Much Better”: University

Students, Alcohol Consumption,

and Online Drinking Cultures

Ross Hebden1, Antonia C. Lyons2, Ian Goodwin2,

and Tim McCreanor3

Abstract

University students frequently engage in normalized practices of heavy drinking, and social

networking sites are becoming increasingly important in this context. The present study

explored the role of Facebook within student drinking cultures by conducting three friendship

groups in which students discussed their social networking and alcohol consumption alongside

an Internet-enabled laptop. Transcripts were discursively analyzed; this demonstrated that

“pleasurable consumption,” “routine socialization,” and “managed risk” discourses were used

to construct Facebook as an essential but mundane tool, and Facebook was used regularly to

create positive constructions of risky drinking. Particular types of risky drinking are discussed

as being encouraged through both the interactions present on Facebook and the structure of

the site that helps shape these interactions. Findings are beneficial for public health strategies

seeking to understand and minimize harmful university drinking practices.

Keywords

drinking cultures, alcohol consumption, social networking, Facebook, university students

University students are consistently found to be an at risk group for alcohol abuse and drinking

problems (Brownfield, Fernando, & Halberstadt, 2003; Kypri, Langley, & Stephenson, 2005).

Exposure to a heavy drinking1 university environment is related to increased risk of developing

unhealthy alcohol consumption (Johnsson, Leifman, & Berglund, 2008; Kypri, Cronin, & Wright,

2005), producing both acute and chronic harms (Huckle, Pledger, & Casswell, 2006; Kypri et al.,

2009) that may persist after graduation (Casswell, Pledger, & Pratap, 2002; Kypri, Cronin, et al.,

2005). Factors supporting heavy student drinking cultures include camaraderie, fun, and a sense

of belonging (Dietz, 2008; Schulenberg & Maggs, 2002; Szmigin et al., 2008). University study

commonly coincides with leaving home for the first time, exploring a new-found autonomy

(Dietz, 2008), reaching the legal drinking age, and increased access to alcohol. In this

environment, alcohol facilitates friendship formation among new classmates (Schulenberg &

1Massey University Manawatu, Palmerston North, New Zealand

2Massey University, Wellington, New Zealand

3SHORE and Whāriki Research Group, Auckland, New Zealand

Corresponding Author:

Ross Hebden, Massey University Manawatu, Private Bag 11 222, Palmerston North 4442, New Zealand.

Email: R.T.Hebden@Massey.ac.nz

575375JODXXX10.1177/0022042615575375Journal of Drug IssuesHebden et al.

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