Games that adults play: sport, alcohol usage and university students : a study of alcohol usage at a national university-sporting event

This study examines the influences that shape the way alcohol is used by university students who attend a major sporting event. It investigates the reasons participants value a type of behaviour involving alcohol which will be argued can be best understood as a form of play. Investigating a university sporting even which involves more than 7000 participants provides a unique opportunity to research the complex organisational and symbolic domains that contribute to both the conditions and behaviours associated with alcohol use amongst university students. This thesis uses play theory to interpret the alcohol-induced behaviours and consumption patterns of participants and seeks to provide a new perspective in alcohol usage amongst this cohort. This approach provides a unique research agenda, one that will encourage a much wider perspective than what currently exists and will increase our understanding of the complexities associated with alcohol use within different recreation and leisure settings.