4

College Case Studies, Student Union 

and Drinks Industry Perspectives

It would be unwise to form a judgement on the success of the college

alcohol policy initiative solely on the basis of the views expressed in these

focus groups, since these were the views of those most involved in and

committed to this process.  This section presents somewhat different

perspectives, consisting of case studies of this process as it has evolved

within three different colleges, as well as the views of two other important

stakeholders, the Union of Students in Ireland (USI)  and  MEAS, the

 social aspects organisation  established  in 2002  by the Drinks Industry

Group in Ireland.  

In qualitative social research the case study method is most commonly used

to provide detailed information on individual  cases ; such case studies are

not as a rule presented on the basis that they are typical of the total class

of institutions or individuals being studied, nor is it argued that information

gleaned in this way is necessarily generalisable (Stake, 1998).  In the

present instance, it was thought useful to supplement information already

presented on college alcohol policies   gathered by reading and analysing

written policy statements and by conducting focus group interviews with

those most responsible for them    with a small number of case studies.

Time and resource limitations confined this to just three colleges: one of

which was selected because it perceived itself to be  a drinking college ,

one which had no such view of itself but participated as part of the national

initiative, and the third which entered the process quite belatedly in the

wake of negative publicity concerning student drinking during rag week.

Individual interviews with student service personnel were conducted and

allowed for the gathering of  in depth and detailed information on the

policy process  within their own colleges. In addition, interviews with

student union officers provided a student (or at least a student union)

perspective which was otherwise missing.  These three case studies will be

presented here in summary form, following which the views of the USI and

MEAS will also be presented.

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