Ben – Interview 23
Ben travelled during his Gap Year and started drinking more because it was cheap. He thinks that students drink a lot because they are away from home and their parents. Ben has very occasionally used drugs, always when he has been drinking, and usually at parties. He says that if he had been sober, he wouldn’t have taken any, and that it was silly.
When Ben was at school he would drink alcohol on weekends. He had a gap year before going to university, working full-time during the first half and travelling afterwards with a friend. When working, he didn’t go out much and drink, but once he started travellingin South East Asiahe drank a lot because it was so cheap. He thinks that he has always been under control, but he knows some people who’ve had a serious drink problem.
Ben thinks that lots of students tend to drink a lot becausebeing away from home means that their parents aren’t keeping an eye on them. He knowsstudents who drink every night, even if they don’t go out. He says that drinking that frequently is expensive. Ben thinks that living in a shared house with friends makes people more likely to stay in and drink. He knows of people who have been mugged while under the influence of alcohol. He has cycled while under the influence and has always been alright, though he knows of others who haven’t. He also has friends who drive after drinkingand is surprised that people don’t seem to worried about it.
Ben has very occasionally used drugs, always when he has been drinking, and usually at parties. He says he wouldn’t have taken any if he’d been soberand that it was silly. He remembers losing his phone once at a club when he had taken drugs. He says that you can’t always be sure of the effect a drug might have and he doesn’t want to lose control.