A case study of alcohol use among male university rugby players

ABSTRACT

In the UK, research has established that student athletes consume greater quantities of alcohol than their non-athlete peers. The published literature suggests the drinking culture in sport is a social phenomenon. At present, however, the evidence does not tell us what the precise mechanisms involved in the production and reproduction of the drinking culture are. To gain a deeper understanding of these mechanisms a case study methodology was used, where a researcher was heavily immersed within a male university rugby environment for a season. Data sources included observation, field-note taking, documentation, conversational interviews, and formal semi-structured interviews. These athletes faced a multitude of pressures encouraging them to drink, and often. Firstly, alcohol use was embedded within athletes’ weekly routine. Over time, drinking became a taken-for-granted ritual of sport. Secondly, specific roles and responsibilities, punishments, and events, were used to ensure athletes complied with the drinking ethos. Thirdly, athletes used alcohol to gain status and reputation. This, however, led to a culture where no behaviours were off limits and led to potentially harmful consequences. Fourthly, institutional factors (such as alcohol price, availability and sponsorship) may have normalised and legitimised a heavy drinking culture. There is a need to confront and challenge the alcohol ethos at this and other similar institutions with a pervasive drinking culture to reduce the potential harm to individual athletes.

KEYWORDS:

• Alcohol
• Sport
• University
• Athletes
• Case study
• Culture
• Practice

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Marc Harris

Marc Harris is the Head of Research at Intelligent Health and Senior Researcher at Cardiff Metropolitan University. Marc is an experienced researcher in public health interventions, physical activity, gamification, alcohol use and image enhancing drug use.

Carwyn Jones

Carwyn Jones is a Professor of Sports Ethics at the School of Sport and Health Sciences – Cardiff Metropolitan University in the UK. His current research interest is in sport, moral development, mental health, and addiction. He is a qualified counsellor and works privately and in third sector addiction services.

David Brown

David Brown is a Professor in the Sociology of Sport and Physical Culture in the Cardiff School of Sport and Health Sciences at Cardiff Metropolitan University. David’s current area of focus involves examining sports, physical culture and sustainability.