Binge Drinking-Do They Mean Us? Living Life to the Full in Students' Own Words

This paper attempts to further understanding about young people and their excessive alcohol consumption, focusing particularly on students. The study aimed to identify and explore the role and position of alcohol in students' lives, and the perceived benefits that alcohol offered. Undergraduate student researchers were recruited and trained to conduct focus groups. Major findings focused on the way participants consumed alcohol, the language they used to talk about their behavior, the means by which they rationalized their behavior, and the perceived benefits they gained from drinking alcohol. The implications of this research for consumers and policy makers are discussed.