09 May 2011 Drink-driving message 'glaringly obvious' says Lincoln University

Lincoln University endorses the "no tolerance" comment of the head of its Telford Division, Jonathan Walmlsley, about student drink-driving. (Balclutha police have expressed alarm at the number of local tertiary students drink-driving in the Clutha district. Otago Daily Times, 6 May, p.1)

"Driving with alcohol levels over the limit is a criminal offence and is not tolerated by Lincoln University," says Vice-Chancellor Professor Roger Field.

"Not only is it a crime against society but young people have to realise It is a crime against themselves and their mates. How many young people have been killed, injured and maimed in alcohol related crashes involving drivers who are their own peers? The alcohol message in relation to driving is glaringly obvious."

While alcohol is served under licensed conditions on Lincoln University's Canterbury campus, staff involved rigorously supervise its sale and associated consumer behaviour. All staff involved in the sale of liquor on the campus have completed Host Responsibility courses, many have also completed courses on the Sale of Liquor Act. The University has close relations with the Police, the Liquor Licensing Authority, the Alcohol Strategy Enforcement Team, Alcohol Health Watch and the Alcohol Advisory Council of New Zealand (ALAC).

The University's Catering Services Manager, Heather Watson, who supervises many of the situations on campus where alcohol is served, is a member of the National Advisory Group on Tertiary Student Drinking.

"Changing student behaviour and attitudes to alcohol is a long, gradual process of education," says Heather, "but we see incremental improvements all the time.

"I note the Southern District Road Policing Manager's comment that the police are finding a general trend across the country that more and more young people are taking the risk and drink-driving, and that this is reinforced by the numbers appearing in court.

"Perhaps those numbers need to be broken down to see who precisely the offending individuals and groups are among young folk. Are they people who are offending despite having been exposed to alcohol education and the influence of trained staff supervising the environment in which they are drinking? That would be particularly concerning.

"Our experience at Lincoln University is that education does bring about change."