Patterns of alcohol use amongst undergraduate students at a health science-es university, south africa

Background: Alcohol use among university students is a common aspect of student extramural activities outside the lecturing setting on campus. The increasing use of alcohol during these periods relates to harmful disorders and predicts substance related problems in later life. Purpose: The purpose of the study was to investigate the prevalence and factors of alcohol use among the undergraduate students at Sefako Mak-gatho Health Sciences University, South Africa. Methodology: A quantitative design was used to collect data through a self-administered questionnaire from 377 undergraduate students in different study professions at Sefako Makgatho Health Sciences University, South Africa. Results: The findings indicate that student’s alcohol use is moderate to heavy with a Spearman coefficient pattern indicating strong correlations between worries and stress, alcohol taste and feeling good as motives for alcohol use. Conclusion: Lack of knowledge about alcohol use, as well as absence of specific policies on alcohol use depict a concerning gap in efforts to com-bat alcohol use among undergraduate students.