Uncorked: Otago bid to beat the binge

Otago University plans to tackle its student binge-drinking culture head-on by cutting the number of liquor outlets around campuses, developing a "sober-up safely facility" on campus and post-party flat inspections by landlords.

The changes are based in part on a 40-point action plan developed by Otago University Students' Association events manager Vanessa Reddy. It was presented to the Alcohol Advisory Council Conference in Auckland yesterday.

Ms Reddy, 34, with funding from the university, OUSA and Dunedin City Council, spent 2009 in the US researching how universities there had changed their binge-drinking cultures.

Ideas include scheduling more lectures and tests on Friday mornings to reduce excessive Thursday night drinking.

Ms Reddy emphasised the idea would be developed by way of 5-, 10- and 15-year plans at Otago University.

"It's never going to be one thing that does the trick, but lots of initiatives involving all aspects of life, over a period of time."

At the "sober-up safely facility", intoxicated students would be monitored until their blood-alcohol level was at a certain level.

They would be charged $200, but if the bill was not paid within a week, and hardship was not an issue, the account would then be sent to their parents.

Ms Reddy said while the sober-up facility could take up to 10 years to develop, introducing landlords' cleanliness standards, property maintenance schedules and after-party inspections might take only a year to establish.