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Unexplored Effects of Drinking Culture in Post-secondary students
By Michelle Woo, Staff Writer
It’s a rite of passage that draws thousands of university students together on holidays, weekends—and yes, even weekdays—for cups brimming with golden “fuel.”
It’s a ritual: one night of drinking and partying followed by a morning as the undead, thanks to a killer hangover. After all, what’s a little memory loss and dehydration compared to the thrill of questionable karaoke and a few too many “just one more” rounds?
Beyond the unpleasant mornings, we rarely pause to consider how alcohol actually affects our bodies. Sure, we’ve all heard it’s “unhealthy,” but if we’re going to make smart choices as supposedly capable adults, we should understand alcohol’s full impact. Nothing says “responsible adult” like fully grasping how our weekend choices are a strategic investment in future healthcare premiums.
Unsurprisingly, surveys from 2020-2021 reveal that 79% of post-secondary students enjoyed a drink in the past year, with half of them diving into some heavy drinking sessions. Nearly half (47%) of those who drank reported paying the price last month, facing hangovers, low energy, nausea, and the occasional regret-inducing behaviour.
And it’s not just the drinkers taking the hit—17% of students reported some form of harm thanks to someone else’s boozy choices. Surprisingly, despite our generation’s well-known drinking habits, surveys show that at least 1 in 6 students aren’t even aware of drinking guidelines—meaning many of us are blissfully unaware of alcohol’s lasting effects.
So, what’s actually going on inside when we drink?
Researchers say heavy episodic drinking—three or more drinks per occasion for females, four or more for males—comes with a solid lineup of short- and long-term consequences. Short-term effects can range from blackouts and impaired driving to the occasional “how-did-I-get-this-bruise” injury, most of which students brush off as the standard college experience.
But here’s the kicker: some of these “petty” side effects can turn into big issues down the line, including serious cognitive impairment, structural and functional brain changes, various cancers, liver cirrhosis, and heart disease (Butt et al., 2011).
Some like to think that light drinking—unlike the previously mentioned “heavy” nights—is practically a health boost. But psychologist Tim Stockwell from the University of Victoria is here to ruin the party, claiming that “There is simply no completely ‘safe’ level of drinking.” Backed by a meta-analysis of 107 scientific studies, Stockwell’s claim reveals that even so-called “moderate” drinkers face higher health risks than those who stick to mocktails. And a UK study of over 135,000 drinkers took it a step further, confirming that each drink adds a bit more risk.
On top of that, the American Association for Cancer Research is not very optimistic, pointing out that about 40% of all cancer cases come down to “modifiable risk factors,” with alcohol playing a starring role. The report also hints at a worrisome trend of rising cancer rates among young adults, which might have a little something to do with those “harmless” weekend sips. So much for that “one glass of wine a day” philosophy!
Take, for instance, the unsettling rise in early-onset colorectal cancer among adults under 50—a trend with a jaw-dropping 1.9% yearly increase in cases from 2011 to 2019. Apparently, all those happy hours and bottomless brunches in early adulthood come with a little surprise.
So, what exactly does booze do to our insides? Well, when we throw back a drink (or three), our bodies get to work breaking down ethanol—that magical ingredient in every beer, wine, and spirit—into a charming little substance called acetaldehyde, which basically goes around messing with our DNA like it’s editing a bad first draft. Yes, alcohol has the power to “rewrite” our DNA, adding a few unwanted plot twists that might raise the stakes for unwanted conditions further down in our lives.
While these future health risks from youthful drinking might sound like the recycled wisdom of our parents, there’s actually something to be said for understanding what’s going on behind the scenes. Knowing that some of these health pitfalls are avoidable could make for a cautionary tale with a rare happy ending. Unlike ageing or bad genetics, our alcohol intake is one risk factor we actually have a say in.
So, how much is too much?
Turns out, alcohol is a carcinogen. But rather than swearing off cocktails forever, it might be smarter to simply dial it back a bit. Experts suggest keeping it to around two drinks a week if you’re looking to keep those future health gremlins at bay.
The point isn’t to live in fear of a drink here and there. We don’t have to banish booze entirely, just maybe normalise the idea of, well, drinking responsibly. It’s not about giving up that glass of wine or pint with friends, but knowing the risks so we can make savvy choices for our future selves—like embracing moderation, mindfulness, and maybe some plain old common sense. Cheers to that!
