A new framework document for developing a college alcohol policy does not amount to spoilsport "don't drink" advice, according to the Minister for Health and Children, who launched the document yesterday.
The policy hopes to promote sensible drinking among students and limit campus-related drinks industry sponsorship.
Speaking at the launch, Mr Martin, said: "Going to university is a wonderful experience and for some students, particularly in their first year, a stressful and difficult experience. Making the best of college years, and coping with the worst of the challenges they pose, is greatly complicated by high-risk drinking and by dependence on alcohol."
The document contains a range of policy options including offering support services to those with problems with alcohol; regulating the role of drink sponsorship and drinks representatives within colleges; finding alternative sources of funding to alcohol sponsorship; addressing how the advertising of drinks and drink-related events should be carried out at third-level colleges; and providing education for students and staff on the use and abuse of alcohol.
Dr Roger Downer, president of the University of Limerick and chair of the Heads of Universities Group, said: "In recent years we and our colleagues in the other universities and higher education colleges have become concerned about a number of alcohol-related issues impinging on the campus community."
The framework was drafted after consultations with the seven universities and 13 institutes of technology along with the Union of Students of Ireland (USI). This was after the Minister had launched a three-year alcohol awareness campaign inviting all third-level institutions to develop guidelines and policies.
"The key group to benefit from this process will be the students themselves as it will positively affect both their health and welfare. And because we've been involved from the very start, students' views have been taken on board in its development," said Mr Richard Hammond, president of the Union of Students in Ireland.