Tag: Alcohol awareness

Student Drug and Alcohol Steering Group scoops collaboration award!

Author Student Communications | Posted on

by Becky

This award specifically celebrates teams of students and staff who join forces to deliver campaigns or initiatives that make a genuine, positive impact on student life.

The judges were looking for true partnership—projects where student insights and staff expertise combine to create something powerful. The Student Drug & Alcohol Steering Group did exactly that…for the second year in a row!

Why we won: The Ketamine Campaign

While the group works hard year-round to keep our community safe and informed, it was the recent Ketamine Campaign that truly stole the spotlight.

The initiative was highlighted by the judging panel for making a tangible, life-changing difference to student lives. By focusing on harm reduction, education and safety the campaign met students exactly where they were and provided them with what they needed.

A true student-staff partnership

What makes this win so special is how the work gets done. The Student Steering Group brings together a diverse mix of student representatives and university staff.

Want to get involved?

This award belongs to everyone who engaged with the campaign, shared the resources and looked out for their mates. The Steering Group is always looking for fresh perspectives to help shape future initiatives.

If you are passionate about student wellbeing and want to be part of an award-winning team, complete our form and expect to hear from us in the Autumn: Expression of interest Student-Led Drug & Alcohol Steering Group

Huge congratulations to everyone involved in the Steering Group—thank you for keeping our campus safe, supportive, and collaborative!

Launch of a new drug testing pilot

Author Student Communications | Posted on

In March 2026, The Students’ Union at UWE partnered with Bristol Drugs Project (BDP) to launch a new drug testing kit pilot across Frenchay and Bower Campuses. The pilot runs on a drop-in basis so students can come along to a pop-up at a campus site of their choosing.

We launched this pilot following conversations with students at various drug and alcohol events and via online interactions, whereby they expressed an interest in testing kits. This shows a growing awareness among students of the risks associated with substance use, a desire for practical tools to mitigate those risks and the confidence and knowledge that this is a safe environment to do so.

During drop-in sessions, students picking up a kit will get the chance to speak to a practitioner from BDP for around 5 to 20 minutes (dependant on how many questions they have) who’ll ask them about their experiences with taking and testing drugs. They’ll also be shown how to use a reagent kit and be offered advice on how to interpret the result and risks associated.

The first session saw a high level of engagement at Frenchay Campus, with 30 reagent kits distributed and 17 students engaging in conversations about drug safety and harm reduction. Students not only took kits for themselves but took them home for friends.

Our second session was over at Bower Ashton Campus where we had 10 students engage in conversations and over 15 kits were given out.

If you’re interested in picking up your own at home reagent testing kit come along to one of our next pop-ups:

Frenchay Campus – The Students’ Union, Meeting Room 4
Thursday 23 April: 11:00 – 15:00
Thursday 21 May: 11:00 – 15:00

Bower Ashton Campus – B Block, Room 0B018
Thursday 7 May: 11:00 – 15:00

If you would like to find out more about our harm reduction approach to student drug and alcohol use you can:

Visit our webpages for more harm reduction advice and guidance:

Drug and Alcohol Awareness Week

Author Student Communications | Posted on

We loved engaging with so many of you during UWE’s Drugs and Alcohol Awareness Week!

Drug and Alcohol Awareness Week is a key time in the harm reduction calendar, as it gives us the chance to chat to you about your alcohol and drug usage, share harm reduction information and get some insight. We do a big push on the Drug and Alcohol survey during this week as the data informs all our harm reduction work, from support interventions to campaigns and events.

This year we saw a record number of responses so a huge thank you to all that completed the survey! One student filling out the survey said, “some of these questions are really interesting… makes you think differently about alcohol use.”

The week also saw some fantastic activities hosted by The Student’s Union and UWE from pizza parties to Drink Rethink.

Not heard of Drink Rethink? This is one of our most popular events and doesn’t just take place during Drug and Alcohol Awareness Week. It’s delivered by fellow students who have been trained to use a nationally recognized evidence-based behaviour change tool AUDIT (Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test). Our student ambassadors give out freebies such as sweet treats, unit measure cups and even mocktails.

Students who attended the event said:

“Thank you so much, this was so informative, you’re doing such important work.”

“I can’t believe how many units there are in a bottle of wine, I wouldn’t have known if it wasn’t for this.”

Sober curiosity

Author Student Communications | Posted on

January is the perfect time for a reset. For some students, that means exploring sober curiosity—a growing movement focused on questioning your relationship with alcohol and embracing mindful choices.

Whether you’re taking part in Dry January, cutting back, or simply curious, this blog is for you!

Why sober curiosity? The student perspective

According to the SOS-UK Drug & Alcohol Impact Survey, which gathered insights from over 11,800 students across UK universities, attitudes toward alcohol are shifting:

  • Many students report drinking less frequently than previous generations.
  • Health, mental wellbeing and financial savings are top motivators for reducing alcohol use.
  • A significant number of students want more alcohol-free social options on campus and our Student’s Union and Student Life Team do a great job at making sure there is something for everyone.

These findings show that sober curiosity isn’t about restriction—it’s about choice and empowerment.

Why January is the perfect time

Starting the year alcohol-free can boost your energy, improve sleep, and help you focus on your studies.

January is often a time for setting new goals and reducing alcohol can increase your motivation. And lets be honest, after an expensive December, saving extra cash is always welcome. Plus, discovering new ways to socialise without relying on alcohol is a valuable skill—especially at university. In a society where drinking is often encouraged, learning to say no when it doesn’t feel right and finding a social life beyond the pub can be empowering.

How to start your sober curious journey

Reflect on your why: journal your reasons—health, focus, finances, or curiosity.

Set realistic goals: try a month of no alcohol or maybe, alcohol-free weekdays, or just limit drinking to special occasions.

Find your community: connect with Sober Girl Society or start a sober-curious group at UWE. Bristol also has some excellent sober raves happening this January.

Explore alternatives: why not explore the range of mocktails available at The Students’ Union bar? And did you know Bristol saw the opening of its first alcohol-free bar last year?

Stay informed: There are some great books available on going sober. The Unexpected Joy of Being Sober and This Naked Mind are particularly good, or if you’d rather listen to something on the go, This Naked Mind is also a podcast.

Need some extra support?

Book an appointment with UWE’s Drug & Alcohol Practitioner.

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