Columns

Does the University need to change its drinking culture?

Matt Chapman argues it does; Beau Murrah disagrees.

 
Matt:
The drinking culture at the University of Otago is a problem that is getting exponentially worse as time goes on, and something needs to be done about it. The simple fact that it’s referred to as a ‘culture’ should be a blatant indicator that something is very wrong. We don’t need to eradicate drinking – it is an important aspect of University life – but we definitely need to bring it under control. Rather than just being a localised, short-term problem, it’s affecting the future of every single student at this University, whether they drink or not. Our drinking is getting so out of hand that it’s no longer being contained within the grounds of the campus; it's being publicised on national (and sometimes international) television. Because of this, Otago's respectable reputation is slowly being trashed as we build ourselves the reputation that we’re a pack of fucking idiots who have absolutely no self control whatsoever. Unless we do something about our drinking, the only thing that an Otago degree will be useful for will be as tinder to light the next couch, because any potential employer is going to take one look at it and tell you to take a hike.
 Rather than whining when the University steps in to control our drinking, we should start controlling it ourselves. We’re slowly losing all our favourite watering holes because we’re consistently proving that we don’t have the capacity to take responsibility for ourselves. We’re perpetuating a culture where it’s okay to forget what you did last night, a culture where it’s hilarious if you end a night with a chat to the cops. Yes, there are those out there who will say, “Chill out, it’s all in good fun,” but not only are we endangering ourselves with our drunken antics, we’re endangering our futures. I’m all for a fun night out, but we need to draw the line. We’re fast becoming the laughing stock of the nation when we all know that that should be Canterbury. Again, we don’t need to stop our drinking, but we need to take control. Drinking or a degree? It’s our choice.
 
Beau:
What exactly is the University's drinking culture? By 'culture', are we including the five-o’clock Friday drinks at the staff club frequented by Professors? What about post-grad students having long yarns over wine about their dissertation at functions? Does Saint Margaret’s drinking culture need changing? I presume by 'University drinking culture' we are referring specifically to Scarfies drinking culture: goon sacks, wizard sticks, pre-loading, keg stands, and telephoning your mates with a jug, among other things. What we are really talking about is youth binge drinking with a Dunedin student flavour. We are talking about a binge drinking culture that is present in basically all places in New Zealand where there is alcohol and young people: it just so happens this culture is clustered at our institution and plays itself out on a large scale. Unfortunately, the worst elements of this culture have played out in national media at University-related events like the Undie 500 and Toga Parade.
This drinking culture is governed by wider social and economic factors than our University and it involves a diversity of individuals. These people likely learned drinking habits before even coming to Otago, among other factors out of the University's control. It is unwise and incorrect for the University to try to take on some sort of social engineering role in what is a larger cultural issue. The University is not and should not need to be our parental guardian, trying to act in 'our best interests' in loco parentis. University is not daycare. If anything, we as students should be involved in this issue ourselves – or are we too stupid, and need to be coddled? The University appears to have marketing incentives designed to quash Scarfie drinking culture in a move to support its image and to appeal to international student cash. The University does not need to change its drinking culture but it appears it will try to anyway. I can only recall the history lessons of the temperance movement and prohibition and suggest such moves are counter-productive.
 
Debatable is a column written by the Otago University Debating Society. They meet every Tuesday at 7pm in Commerce 2.20.