Abstract
Objective: The aim of this pilot study was to characterize the perceptions of university students regarding alcohol consumption and the availability of alcohol outlets in the urban perimeter of a university in Bogota. Methods: A mixed cross-sectional study was conducted among 201 undergraduate students aged 18-27 using a non-probabilistic sampling design. The perceptions regarding alcohol consumption in the surrounding area of the university were assessed via a self-reported questionnaire. Geographic Information Systems were used to identify the alcohol outlets. Results: Of the students surveyed, 66% reported that they had consumed alcohol in the surrounding area of the university, and 26% agreed with the implementation of strict measures to control alcohol consumption, with a higher percentage in those who did not consume alcohol (41.2%). The geographic analysis showed that several urban attributes were correlated with alcohol consumption. Conclusion: The results of this study show the potential influence that the availability of alcohol outlets near a university campus has as a public health issue. Further studies should be conducted in order to better understand the links between urban contexts near universities and alcohol consumption.
Highlights
Alcohol abuse is a major public health problem that is associated with 5.9% of all deaths worldwide [1]
It can be observed that the alcohol outlets in the studied area were distributed in small agglomerations of commercial establishments of various types. This pilot study addressed the possibilities offered by mixed approaches in urban research related to alcohol consumption
The results suggest that alcohol consumption is very high in the university population
Summary
Alcohol abuse is a major public health problem that is associated with 5.9% of all deaths worldwide [1]. Excessive alcohol intake among young people is positively linked to an increased risk of traffic accidents, sexually transmitted diseases and suicide [2]. In 2013, the prevalence of alcohol abuse in Colombia was 38.1% among young people aged 18-24, who represent the most important age group of the country’s university population [3]. The risk derived from alcohol consumption is related to sociodemographic characteristics such as age and sex, and factors such as the hours in which it is consumed and the availability of alcohol outlets. According to data from the World Health Organization, the region of the Americas is among those with the highest prevalence alcohol abuse by adolescents [1]
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