We had a feeling this initiative mightn’t catch-on immediately…
An initiative by the University College of Cork (UCC) to provide alcohol-free accommodation on campus for students has met with an underwhelming response, with only three students applying to avail of the accommodation
according to the Irish Times.
The college announced the initiative last month in an effort to cater for students willing to adhere to rules forbidding them from drinking alcohol on the premises, although they are free to consume alcohol elsewhere.
According to the Irish Times, only three students applied to stay in the Victoria Lodge apartments, where six alcohol-free apartments were provided with room for 36 students. Despite the lack of interest, Vice President of Education at UCC Students’ Union, Gavin Lynch-Frahill, said that it was early days and expected an increase in demand this year and in the years ahead.
“It was only launched a month ago so it needs time to get around,” Lynch-Frahill said.
“I wouldn’t be too worried about it. In UCC we have a lot of people from a lot of different countries. In some communities they don’t drink alcohol for religious or cultural reasons. We were hoping that a lot of these people would take up on it.
“There is still accommodation available. It is only going to expand in the years to come.”
Although many people have a perception of college as something out of cult college movies like Animal House and Old School, that sort of lifestyle is not to everyone’s taste and the initiative was certainly a well-intentioned one by UCC, with motives to try and prevent binge drinking and alcohol-related harm amongst students after some worrying findings in a UCC study on alcohol consumption in 2010.
For more information on accommodation at UCC, you can contact the UCC Campus Accommodation via email:
accommodation@ucc.ie or on (0)21 4941200.
Pic via Victoria Lodge Facebook
