Groningen makes agreements about responsible alcohol consumption among students

Twenty concrete measures to achieve more responsible alcohol consumption within student associations – this was the agreement reached in the Responsible Alcohol Consumption Covenant by the eight largest student associations, the University of Groningen, Hanze University of Applied Sciences and the Municipality of Groningen. On the initiative of Mayor Peter den Oudsten, six months of work went into these agreements that will benefit student health and well-being. Den Oudsten: ‘The parties concerned are all taking responsibility for reducing excessive alcohol consumption. This Covenant is the first important step towards making students’ time in Groningen healthy and safe.’

The measures

The Covenant contains agreements on peer monitoring and social control, information, prevention and the availability of non-alcoholic beverages within the student associations. Students in the associations will be challenged about unwanted behaviour resulting from drinking too much alcohol and may be subject to sanctions or other measures. The associations will appoint individuals with special responsibility in this area and the voluntary bar staff will attend a relevant course. The staff members who come into contact with students at the knowledge institutions will be better trained to identify alcohol abuse and to raise the issue for discussion. It is agreed that the signatories will meet twice a year and that the measures will be evaluated in three years’ time. The Accreditation Committee for student organizations will take into account the Covenant measures when accrediting student associations.

A model

During several joint working sessions, the problem was explored, knowledge was shared and the measures were carefully articulated. The Trimbos Institute and the Care of Addicts Northern Netherlands (VNN) organization, among others, advised on the content of the Covenant. The Trimbos Institute stated that the Groningen approach could serve as a model for other student cities. According to the Institute, the fact that the signatories have worked together is very valuable. Groningen is the first student city to satisfy one of the components of the National Prevention Agreement. Other student cities are also required by 2021 at the latest to take measures to drastically reduce risky and problematic alcohol consumption among students.