Principals’ reports of adults’ alcohol use in Australian secondary schools

Widespread use of alcohol is associated with significant harm for young people [1]. In 2013, 26 % of Australians aged 14 years and older reported being a victim of an alcohol-related harm [2]. Schools, along with parents [3, 4], peers [5] and the broader community [6], can be influential in the socialisation of children to alcohol. Schools can provide opportunities for the intellectual, physical and emotional development of children with regard to their teaching, and role modelling regarding responsible alcohol consumption [7]. This ability to influence children is often focused on the curriculum and related programs [8] but schools also play a role in the socialisation of children to alcohol through school policies and practices that focus on consumption of alcohol by adults in the presence of children [9].

There have been several media reports of adults’ consuming alcohol at school events when students are present in Australia, England and the US [10‐14], although little published research on this topic exists. In Australia, to varying degrees, attempts to manage such consumption are embedded within liquor licensing acts and state and territory government education department policies and guidelines [9]. In most jurisdictions, much of the responsibility for decision-making on this issue rests with principals and school councils [9]. For example, in the state of VIC, the government policy states that decision-making is at the school level [15], whereas in the state of New South Wales, (NSW) the government policy indicates that alcohol must not be consumed or brought to school premises or functions, including those conducted outside school premises at any time when school students are present [16].

Internationally, there is a lack of policies and guidelines on this issue. The Australian National Council on Drugs (ANCD) guidelines on alcohol fundraising in schools, recommends that children not be exposed to or involved in such activities [17]. Australian parents’ support for such a recommendation is illustrated by the findings of a survey of 479 parents, in which 60 % disagreed with adults purchasing and consuming alcohol at school events [18]. Qualitative research with 14 schools in the state of VIC, Australia suggests that implementation of the state’s policy regarding adults’ use of alcohol at government schools when students are present varies between schools. Ten of the principals reported adults’ use of alcohol at school events when students were present. Twelve of the principals expressed concern about adults using alcohol at school events, with seven making changes to alcohol policies in recent years to remove/reduce the availability of alcohol for adults’ consumption. This is consistent with the findings of a survey of 218 Australian secondary school principals who reported that adult drinkers were often undesirable role models for students and that there was a need to change the culture of drinking amongst some parents [19]. Despite such findings, the extent to which alcohol consumption by adults occurs in the presence of school children has not been systematically quantified, nor has the extent of principal agreement or disagreement with this practice been described. Given this evidence gap and the differences in policy approaches between jurisdictions, a study was undertaken to a) quantify and compare the extent to which alcohol is used at NSW and VIC secondary school events when students are present; b) describe principals’ level of agreement with these practices; c) their awareness, support of state policies and need for further information on this issue; and d) the predictors of schools holding such events.

This study sought to quantify and compare to extent to which alcohol is used at NSW and VIC secondary school events when students are present; principals’ awareness and level of agreement with these practices and the predictors of schools holding such events. The study found that fifteen percent of participating NSW schools and 57 % of VIC schools held at least one such event in the year before the survey. The majority of principals disagreed/strongly disagreed with the practice and NSW principals were significantly more likely to disagree than their VIC counterparts. NSW principals were also significantly more likely to be aware of, support policies and have adequate information to make decisions about alcohol at such events. Significant predictors of alcohol at these events were location (VIC), year level, absence of school policy and support for state education policy that prohibited adults’ alcohol use at these events and inadequate information to make a decision about the issue.

The significant differences between the prevalence of and state principals’ awareness of and support for adults’ consumption of alcohol at school events when children are present may be explained by underlying alcohol related differences between NSW and VIC. While there are no significant differences in the patterns of drinking between the two populations [2], the NSW population is more likely to support restrictive alcohol policies [25]. Consistent with this, the VIC state education department policy that leaves much of the decision-making on this issue to the principal. In contrast, the NSW policy is more explicit, prohibiting the consumption of alcohol at any school event when children are present. More specifically, in VIC, there are different education department guidelines for functions that are held on or off school premises. When VIC school functions are held at off-site at licensed premises, students may be present under the supervision of a parent/guardian [15] and VIC principals report the responsibility for meeting liquor licensing requirements does not sit with the school. In contrast, the education department policy in NSW does not differentiate between functions on or off school premises [16]. Nevertheless, where there is a teacher-student relationship at a school hosted event, irrespective of parental attendance or location, school staff have a duty of care to ensure that students are safe [26, 27]; irrespective of adults’ drinking behaviours.

The explicit NSW policy on adults’ use of alcohol in schools when children are present may influence principals’ attitudes and beliefs about other uses of alcohol in schools. The use of alcohol in school fundraising is not explicit in the NSW policy but may be implied. In VIC, the education department policy is explicit that “students should not be involved in fundraising events which have an alcoholic beverage as a prize” [15]. Despite this, 3 % of NSW and 10 % of VIC principals reported they agree/strongly agree with alcohol being used for fundraising (when children are present) while a further 6 and 11 % respectively neither agree nor disagree. The relative autonomy that VIC principals have on the overall use of adults’ use of alcohol at school events, may be a stronger predictor of their use of alcohol for fundraising purposes than an explicit state policy or national guidelines on the use of alcohol for this purpose [17].

Adults’ alcohol use at school events when children are present was significantly associated with principals’ reports of information they had to make decisions about this issue. School principals may be seeking information to assist them in their decision-making about the pros and cons of exposing students to alcohol at school events. The existing Australian state and territory policies about adults’ use of alcohol at school events are conflicting [9]. The development of national guidelines, similar to those on the use of alcohol for fundraising in schools [17], could inform state and territory policies and principals seeking information and guidance on this issue.

There is limited evidence on the prevalence of adults’ alcohol use in schools and the potential long-term influence of this on children. The majority of events reported in this study were Year 12 graduations and this may reflect the legal age of purchase of alcohol in Australia (18 years) and the normalisation of alcohol use at social events. However, many school events include other family members; often younger children. Evidence from meta-analyses suggests children form memory associations of alcohol before they ever drink alcohol themselves [28] and that these memories are associated the frequency of parental drinking and adolescents’ subsequent initiation to and misuse of alcohol [29]. Adults’ use of alcohol at school events, in the presence of children, may be infrequent particularly when compared to the use of alcohol in other public and/or private settings. However the negative role modelling of alcohol consumption reported at some school events [12] may be exacerbating the significant alcohol-related harm experienced by young people [1]. Schools may be underestimating their role in socialising children to alcohol use.

In some countries there have been efforts to reduce the consumption of alcohol at school events’ particularly when children are present. In England, there have been calls to prohibit the sale of alcohol in schools [11] and recent legislative changes in New Zealand have further restricted the use of alcohol at school events [30]. In contrast, in some Australian jurisdictions the licensing requirements to provide alcohol at school events when children are present have been reduced [31, 32] to the extent that, within limits, schools in these jurisdictions (including NSW) no longer need to apply for a liquor licence to sell or supply alcohol.

The reports of adults’ alcohol use at schools in this study may, compared to the use of alcohol in broader society, appear to be relatively benign. However, it is likely there is under-reporting of adult drinking at secondary school functions when children are present because of a social desirability bias by those who did/not participate. Unsurprisingly, a large number of schools that were contacted chose not to participate. While this is typical of school-based surveys [33], it may also reflect a reluctance to report adult drinking at secondary school functions when children are present. Our survey was limited to government secondary schools in two states. Qualitative reports from VIC secondary school principals suggest that adults’ alcohol use at Catholic and primary school functions may be higher than in secondary schools. Primary schools are more likely to host events where adults and children are involved (e.g. fetes, school concerts) where adults may regularly use alcohol in the presence of young children. Further research is needed to examine the extent of alcohol use at primary schools and the extent to which safeguards are in place to protect the wellbeing of children and other community members. Efforts to examine and/or further restrict adults’ use of alcohol at school events when students are present are only one component of a broader approach to a more responsible societal attitude to alcohol.

Findings from this study suggest education department and school-based policies that prohibit or restrict the use of alcohol, are significant predictors of adults’ alcohol use at school events when children are present. These events are significantly more likely to be hosted by schools where the principals agree with such practices and have significantly lower levels of awareness of education department policies on this issue. However, these principals are also significantly more likely to report that they need further information on which to base such decisions. Education departments have an important role in ensuring alcohol policy is responsive to the needs of principals charged with ensuring the wellbeing of children and young people.