After speaking to some current Freshers at uni, some of them seek out events that promote heavy drinking and treat any occasion to drink as the best thing about being a student. One student even found a recent ‘Carnage UK’ event a bit “meh” and told me he prefers to organise his own excuses to drink. ‘Carnage UK’ like to mention that they have dedicated medical staff on hand and “wants the students to be safe“. But, as you say, companies have to think about profit.

I don’t know what would happen if alcohol wasn’t targeted at young people, or if advertising alcohol was banned outright. With new licensing conditions being introduced by the government later this year, it’s a move toward more sensible practice, but how much it will make a difference? Only time will tell.

So long as there are students who want to drink copious amounts of alcohol, there is no reason anyone in the alcohol industry will stop promoting where it could help profits. Unless regulations are tightened and authorities keep up with developments within the industry, I can’t see much changing.