An eminent panel of West Australians raised ideas about closing university taverns, incorporating alcohol education into all degrees and making volunteer work compulsory before graduation.

Universities in Australia are tantamount with drinking and the problem was made a prime topic at a forum on universities’ expectations conducted by Curtin University. The forum included Karl O’Callaghan – the Police Commissioner and Governor Malcolm McCusker’s wife Tonya McCusker – McCusker Centre for Action on Alcohol and Youth’s philanthropic sponsor.

Ms McCusker believes that although universities are places where students go to obtain education, they share a responsibility to extend their views towards community and health initiatives. She said that it is a critical stage in which students enter universities. They have the freedom to do anything they like and the drinking culture is one that needs to be more responsible. Universities are expected to address this issue.

Ms McCusker said that universities did a great job with smoking, especially in Western Australia where every university campus was smoke-free. But when it comes to the alcohol culture, she believes it needs quick and stringent addressing. Responsible service of alcohol (RSA) is a course that is fundamental if you are looking for jobs in the hospitality sector. By undergoing a RSA course, workers at bars will be more responsible while serving alcohol to youngsters, knowing fully well that young blood is dumb blood.