Nature of events and alcohol-related content in marketing materials at a university freshers’ fair: a summative content analysis

Introduction:The transition to university is a potentially influential time upon students’ drinking behaviour. This study explored the nature of activities and alcohol-related content in marketing materials from student-led societies and local businesses provided to students, at a university fresher...

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Main Authors: Fuller, Amy, Fleming, Kate M., Szatkowski, Lisa, Bains, Manpreet
Format: Article
Published: Oxford University Press 2017
Online Access:https://eprints.nottingham.ac.uk/49133/
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author Fuller, Amy
Fleming, Kate M.
Szatkowski, Lisa
Bains, Manpreet
author_facet Fuller, Amy
Fleming, Kate M.
Szatkowski, Lisa
Bains, Manpreet
author_sort Fuller, Amy
building Nottingham Research Data Repository
collection Online Access
description Introduction:The transition to university is a potentially influential time upon students’ drinking behaviour. This study explored the nature of activities and alcohol-related content in marketing materials from student-led societies and local businesses provided to students, at a university freshers’ fair in the UK. Methods: All marketing materials handed out at the fair were collected across the 5-day event in September 2015. Written and visual content was analysed using a summative qualitative content analysis. Results: Most student-led societies promoted social events they were hosting (n=530), most of which took place in a drinking venue or referred to drinking (n=335). Only four explicitly alcohol-free events were promoted. Student-led societies also promoted activities relating to their interest e.g. sports training (n=519), a small proportion of which had references to drinking and drinking venues (n=54). Three societies provided promotional handouts from local bars or nightclubs. Local bars, pubs and nightclubs promoted events they hosted (n=81) as well as alcoholic drink promotions (n=79) and alcohol branded advertising (n=22), albeit infrequently for the latter. Conclusions: In the first week of university, students are exposed to alcohol-related events, promotions, and advertising, which may act as an incentive to participate in drinking.
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spelling nottingham-491332020-05-04T19:22:41Z https://eprints.nottingham.ac.uk/49133/ Nature of events and alcohol-related content in marketing materials at a university freshers’ fair: a summative content analysis Fuller, Amy Fleming, Kate M. Szatkowski, Lisa Bains, Manpreet Introduction:The transition to university is a potentially influential time upon students’ drinking behaviour. This study explored the nature of activities and alcohol-related content in marketing materials from student-led societies and local businesses provided to students, at a university freshers’ fair in the UK. Methods: All marketing materials handed out at the fair were collected across the 5-day event in September 2015. Written and visual content was analysed using a summative qualitative content analysis. Results: Most student-led societies promoted social events they were hosting (n=530), most of which took place in a drinking venue or referred to drinking (n=335). Only four explicitly alcohol-free events were promoted. Student-led societies also promoted activities relating to their interest e.g. sports training (n=519), a small proportion of which had references to drinking and drinking venues (n=54). Three societies provided promotional handouts from local bars or nightclubs. Local bars, pubs and nightclubs promoted events they hosted (n=81) as well as alcoholic drink promotions (n=79) and alcohol branded advertising (n=22), albeit infrequently for the latter. Conclusions: In the first week of university, students are exposed to alcohol-related events, promotions, and advertising, which may act as an incentive to participate in drinking. Oxford University Press 2017-12-15 Article PeerReviewed Fuller, Amy, Fleming, Kate M., Szatkowski, Lisa and Bains, Manpreet (2017) Nature of events and alcohol-related content in marketing materials at a university freshers’ fair: a summative content analysis. Journal of Public Health . ISSN 1741-3850 https://doi.org/10.1093/pubmed/fdx181 doi:10.1093/pubmed/fdx181 doi:10.1093/pubmed/fdx181
spellingShingle Fuller, Amy
Fleming, Kate M.
Szatkowski, Lisa
Bains, Manpreet
Nature of events and alcohol-related content in marketing materials at a university freshers’ fair: a summative content analysis
title Nature of events and alcohol-related content in marketing materials at a university freshers’ fair: a summative content analysis
title_full Nature of events and alcohol-related content in marketing materials at a university freshers’ fair: a summative content analysis
title_fullStr Nature of events and alcohol-related content in marketing materials at a university freshers’ fair: a summative content analysis
title_full_unstemmed Nature of events and alcohol-related content in marketing materials at a university freshers’ fair: a summative content analysis
title_short Nature of events and alcohol-related content in marketing materials at a university freshers’ fair: a summative content analysis
title_sort nature of events and alcohol-related content in marketing materials at a university freshers’ fair: a summative content analysis
url https://eprints.nottingham.ac.uk/49133/
https://eprints.nottingham.ac.uk/49133/
https://eprints.nottingham.ac.uk/49133/