Tag: Alcohol

Staying safe during festival season: Your ultimate guide

Author Student Communications | Posted on

by Becky Risley

For many of you, the end of term is more than just a break—it’s the official kick off to festival season. Whether you’re heading to a local day-fest or camping out for a long weekend, we want you to feel confident in knowing how to research the risks and reduce the harm this summer!

Pace yourself (it’s a marathon, not a sprint)

Festivals are high-energy environments. Between the dancing, the walking, and the sensory overload, your body is working harder than usual.

  • Hydrate: Locate the free water refill points as soon as you arrive and use them.
  • Refuel: Your brain needs more than just vibes to function. Sit down, grab some food, and take actual breaks away from the speakers.

Be in the know

  • The Buddy System: Make sure your friends know what you’ve taken, and check in on them, too. If someone feels unwell, knowing exactly what they’ve consumed allows medical teams to help much faster, check out the Drugs Related Emergencies resource.
  • Map it Out: Before the part starts, familiarise yourself with the medical and welfare tent, knowing where to go in an emergency.

Do your research

If you’re planning to use any substances, including alcohol. It is your responsibility to understand the effects and risks.

  • Harm reduction advice and information: Visit our drug and alcohol webpage.
  • Harm reduction guides: You can find advice on how to look after yourself before, during and after, taking certain substances via our harm reduction guide blog series. Downloadable PDF’s are also available on the webpage above.
  • Leave the Mixing to the DJ: Mixing substances is where the danger increases exponentially.
  • Alcohol is a Drug: Remember that alcohol interacts with almost everything.
  • Check Interactions: If you are considering using more than one substance, visit drugsandme for reliable, evidence-based info on how different drugs interact and how to reduce harm.

Out together, home together

Don’t be the person wandering the campsite alone at 3:00 AM.

  • The “Meeting Spot”: Pick a physical landmark (like a specific food stall—not a flag that moves!) to meet at if you get separated.
  • The Exit Strategy: Plan your journey home before you’re tired and disoriented. If you’re in a new city, pre-book your taxi or download the local transport maps.

Support and resources

You don’t have to navigate this alone. We are here to support you without judgment:

  • SU Harm Reduction: Check out the Students’ Union website for more tips and resources.
  • One-on-One Advice: Want a confidential chat? Book an appointment with UWE’s Drug & Alcohol Practitioner for professional advice, info, and support tailored to you.

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:

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.

Your harm reduction guide to Christmas

Author Student Communications | Posted on

by Becky Risley

With Christmas and the end of term around the corner, many of us will be excited to see loved ones and celebrate with friends and family. But with these celebrations sometimes comes a pressure to socialise when you’re not really feeling it or go on nights out often involving alcohol and other substances.

Here’s my top tips and advice for how to stay safe, happy, and healthy during the festive period.

Plan your night out

Many different factors can impact how alcohol and drugs affects us, such as how well we slept, what we’ve eaten and drank that day, and the environment we choose to use in.

Using any substance in an environment we’re not familiar with, or with people we don’t know or trust, can make us feel uneasy and unsafe and can change the experience of a substance. So, before a night out, think about how you’re feeling and where and who you’re going with.

Are you in a good state of mind to do this right now? Is this a safe environment for you to do this in? Who are you with? Do you feel safe with them?

It’s also a good idea to plan how you’re getting home before you go out, so you’re not left stranded at the end of the night.

Check out our drug and alcohol leaflets

We want to make sure you’re safe, whatever substance you choose to use. That’s why we’ve created a series of guidance telling you how you to look after yourself, before, during and after using a substance. Download, read and keep the leaflets below for when you need them.

Ketamine LeafletDownload
Cannabis LeafletDownload
MDMA LeafletDownload
Cocaine LeafletDownload
Alcohol LeafletDownload

Avoiding hangxiety

Hangxiety, or ‘beer fear’ is the term used to describe the crippling feeling of anxiety after a heavy drinking session. Drinking large amounts of alcohol can cause blackouts, which apart from being dangerous, can also leave us feeling very unsettled and anxious the next day when we can’t remember where we have been, who we were with or what we might have done. This along with disturbed sleep, dehydration and the natural mild levels of anxiety caused by alcohol consumption, can leave us with feelings of worry and anxiety.
Everyone can suffer from it but if you experience anxiety in everyday life, you might feel it more intensely than others.

The best thing you can do if you do find yourself with worries from the night before is to get up, drink some water, eat some food and speak to someone. Often just connecting with someone and talking about how you’re feeling can really help.

How to lessen a comedown

A comedown is the term used to describe feeling low, anxious, exhausted or emotionally fragile following a night on stimulants (MDMA, Cocaine, Amphetamine).

Which isn’t surprising when you’ve been dancing until 5am and have drunk very little water – this would mess with your sleep pattern and leave you feeling groggy and grumpy even without the effect of a substance. But whilst using drugs is always going to impact how you feel in the days after, there are things in your control which can lessen the damage.

First, avoid mixing drugs and alcohol. Different substances can have varying side effects which can impact your physical and mental health. The Students’ Union have a helpful guide on how different drugs mixed with alcohol might affect you so take a look at this if you want more information. Mixing drugs and alcohol can also make comedowns more intense and might affect you more if you experience anxiety generally.

Drinking water or isotonic drinks can also help your recovery in the days to come.

Be prepared to say no

Saying no can be challenging at times, especially during the holidays. But it’s necessary if you feel like a certain event, group of people or environment isn’t right for you. This is especially true if you’re in recovery from drugs or alcohol as it’s likely to endanger your sobriety.

Staying in one night when you’re feeling overwhelmed, or leaving a party early is ok. Some people might not understand but only you know what’s best for you in any given situation, so do what you feel is best regardless of how it might make others feel.

And my final piece of advice is to speak to me – your Specialist Drug and Alcohol Practitioner! I’m available right up until the University closes on Friday 19 Dec and will be back when the University reopens on Monday 5 January.

If you need support during the Christmas break you can access a qualified counsellor 24 hours a day 365 days a year using the Wisdom app.

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Your harm reduction guide to alcohol

Author Student Communications | Posted on

by Becky Risley

We want to make sure you’re safe, whatever substance you choose to use. That’s why we’ve created a series of guidance telling you how you to look after yourself, before, during and after using a substance.

So let’s get started…

Alcohol. From a chemical point of view, alcohol is a broad class of organic compounds usually referred to as ethanol; a colourless, volatile liquid made by fermenting sugars from grains or fruits.

It’s the most widely used drug for altering consciousness and according to the Drugs and Alcohol Survey 2024, it’s still the most widely used substance by UWE students. Unlike other substances, it’s also the most normalised in our society and many of the negative side effects, such as blackouts or hangxiety are often shrugged off as part of the experience.

But these, as well as the other associated affects of alcohol can be harmful. So how can you reduce the harm?

Before

  • Eating before you drink will protect the stomach lining and slow down the onset rate of the alcohol.
  • This helps you pace yourself better and will hopefully avoid nausea, bloating, or general stomach discomfort.
  • Plan what are you going to drink, how much and what time you’d like to be home by.
  • Thinking about these things before you start drinking will help you achieve the night out you want!

Think about your mindset

  • How we are feeling can impact our experience of using alcohol.
  • Using alcohol when we are feeling anxious can result in us drinking quicker and more than we intended.
  • Using alcohol when feeling down or upset can have unintended consequences such as being more impulsive or getting more upset than we were before we started.
  • This can increase the risk of hurting ourselves or someone else.

And setting

  • The environment you’re in can change your experience of using alcohol.
  • Think about who you’re with, or if you’re ok drinking on your own.
  • Do you know the people you’re with? Will they be supportive and caring if you need some help?
  • Is this a safe and comfortable environment to drink?
  • Thinking about mindset and setting is a useful tool when deciding to use any drug including alcohol.

During

Safety first

  • Do not drink and drive – it’s not worth it!
  • Carry condoms.
  • Avoid drinking alone.

Pace yourself

  • Avoid drinking in rounds as you’ll have to keep pace with the fastest drinker.
  • Consider spritzers, lager tops or low percentage spirits to avoid
    drinking too much.
  • Take breaks – if it’s safe to do so, put your drink down in between sips.
  • Swap out every other drink for a non-alcoholic option to stay hydrated and pace yourself.

Do your research

  • If you plan on mixing alcohol with other substances including prescribed medication like SSRI’s (Anti-depressants), research how they will interact at drugsand.me

How do I know if my friend needs help or just needs to sleep it off?

  • If you spot these signs, your friend could have alcohol poisoning, which can be fatal if left untreated. Remember MUST HELP and then call for help:
  • Mental confusion. Unresponsive Snoring / Gasping for breath. Throwing up. Hypothermia. Erratic Breathing. Loss of consciousness. Pale or blue skin.

After

Hangxiety

  • Drinking alcohol suppresses anxiety chemicals but as it is processed and leaves the body, the anxiety chemicals can rebound coming back stronger than before.
  • Hangxiety can also be exacerbated from blacking out or having periods of time where you can’t remember what happened, which will fuel the anxiety further.
  • To try to help the feelings, get out of bed, drink a large glass of water, have a shower and speak to a trusted friend about how you’re feeling.
  • If you know alcohol affects your anxiety, consider drinking less.

Hair of dog

  • Drinking alcohol when you’re hungover is just delaying the inevitable and runs the risk of the hangover being even worse than it was initially.
  • There is no cure for a hangover other than time.

Take a break

  • The recommended weekly limit/maximum for alcohol consumption is 14 units.
  • Having multiple days off alcohol each week may help prevent you becoming reliant on alcohol.
  • Think about making plans with friends which don’t involve alcohol.

If you have more questions, need support or want to make a change to your alcohol use, just get in touch. You can find out more about me and the UWE drug and alcohol service on our drugs and alcohol webpage.

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Alcohol and blackouts: what’s happening in those lost hours?

Author Student Communications | Posted on

by Becky Risley

Ever woken up after a night out and can’t remember parts of the night? Or maybe you’ve had nights where whole chunks of time are missing? Sometimes we make light of these experiences or pass them off as joke, but they can be really worrying. 

So how much are students actually drinking and is it really a problem?

According to NUS SOS UK national data, 84% agreed that drinking too much too quickly can cut short a great night with 79% say they don’t like socialising with people who get very drunk and ruin the night for others.

Despite this however, 51% of those that were asked said that getting drunk means they will have a good night out and 38% say it can be difficult not to drink too much on a night out.

But what is an alcohol related blackout? And why

Alcohol-related blackouts are when you can’t remember things that happened while you were drunk. This happens because drinking too much alcohol can temporarily mess up the process of moving memories from short-term to long-term storage in your brain, specifically in the hippocampus.

There are two types of blackouts, based on how much memory is lost:

Fragmentary Blackout: This is the most common type. You might have patchy memories of events, with some parts missing. This is also called a grayout or brownout.

En Bloc Blackout: This is more severe. You can’t remember anything often for hours. The memories never form, so you can’t get them back.

When do blackouts happen?

Blackouts often result from binge drinking, which is can roughly be counted as 4 drinks for women and 5 for men within 2 hours. Science suggests blackouts usually start when your blood alcohol content hits about 0.16 percent, nearly twice the legal driving limit. At this level, your judgment and decision-making are seriously impaired, making blackouts really dangerous.

They’re more likely when alcohol enters your bloodstream quickly, like drinking on an empty stomach or consuming a lot fast. Women reach higher blood alcohol content levels faster than men, making them more prone to blackouts.

Blackouts can also occur at lower levels if you mix alcohol with other substances especially benzodiazepines.

My friend drank the same amount as me and remembers everything, why is that?

Our genetics play a big role on the likelihood of blacking out, some people are just more prone to it happening than others and everyone threshold for blackouts will be different.

Are there any long-term effects from having blackouts?

Other than the anxiety of not knowing what went on in those lost hours, research suggests that those who experience blackouts have a greater likelihood of having a dependency on alcohol late on in life. So, if you are finding you are regularly blacking out seeking support is recommended.

How can I avoid blacking out when drinking?

  1. Start Low Go Slow: drink slowly, avoid consuming large amounts of alcohol in a short period. This helps keep your blood alcohol concentration (BAC) from rising too quickly. Choosing lower alcohol drinks, such as lager tops, single spirits with lots of mixer or wine spritzers can help us pace ourselves.
  2. Eating is never cheating: having food in your stomach slows the absorption of alcohol, which can help prevent blackouts – simple as that! Eating before, during and after alcohol is always a good idea!
  3. Drink water: stay hydrated and reduce the overall amount of alcohol you consume by switching out every other drink for a glass of water.
  4. Just Say Know…your limits: everyone’s tolerance is different so it can be helpful to set yourself a limit of drinks/units before you go out for the night. Using app’s like the drink coach can help us keep track of how many drinks we have consumed.
  5. Leave the mixing to the DJ: combining alcohol with other substances, can increase the risk of blackouts.
  6. Buddy up: going out with friends who will support you to drink in a controlled way can make a big difference, make a plan and support each other to stick to it.

If you have more questions, need support or want to make a change to your alcohol use, just get in touch with me!

You can find out more about me and the UWE drug and alcohol service on our drugs and alcohol webpage.

How’s your relationship with alcohol?

Author Student Communications | Posted on

by Becky Risley

We all know that alcohol can form a big part of the university experience and that drinking too much, can have a negative affect on our mood, energy and resilience.

Research conducted by SOS-UK showed 38% of students said they had missed a lectures or seminar due to their drinking and 32% of students said they had argued with friends or strangers whilst under the influence of alcohol.

So, it’s not surprising if you struggle to focus in lectures, feel more tired or irritable following a night out.

That’s why this academic year we have partnered with SOS-UK, to be part of their Drink Rethink programme, supported by NUS and Drinkaware. As part of this we’re encouraging you to use Drinkaware’s handy Check Your Drinking tool. It takes 3 minutes to complete and at the end you’ll receive personalised feedback and insight on your alcohol consumption.

Completing the survey will not only help you understand your relationship with alcohol, but it’ll feed into national data around student alcohol use, which will help us understand how better to support you.

If you want to talk about your alcohol consumption, or want to make a change, contact me to discuss how I can support you.