Alcohol Abuse Advice

Controversy around STD Test Program

A controversial scheme by the National Union of Students has seen university students offered free booze in exchange for having a sexual health check. The union has created the nationwide scheme in an attempt to lower the rates of Chlamydia infection and encourage teenagers to get a Chlamydia test.

The events have been held during Freshers week, a notoriously rowdy period in the university calendar renowned for high levels of drunkenness and a fair amount of drink-fuelled unprotected sex.

Those who attended were given free alcohol tokens in exchange for having an STD test. Students provided a urine sample for testing, performed free by the sexual health charity Brooke Advisory Centre, and then were given a voucher they could exchange for a free beer or spirit and mixer.

The scheme is part of the NUS’ Sexual Health Advice and Guidance campaign, which is directed towards new undergraduates. STD test evenings have already been put on in Birmingham, Manchester and London.

Many health care trusts have resorted to using incentive schemes to encourage young people to go for Chlamydia testing, as statistics suggest that of the 121,000 new cases of the infection reported last year, 2/3s of them were amongst the 16-24 age group.

However it has been reported that many of the events have descended into chaos, as students attempted to dupe the system and get multiple free drinks. According to the Daily Mail, some students were seen pouring beer into the testing vial and giving false names and addresses so they could take the Chlamydia test twice.

Critics have said that offering alcohol as an incentive to get a Chlamydia test is a dangerous message to be giving students. The Tory MP Ann Widdecombe questioned whether it was appropriate to be using alcohol to bribe young people when binge drinking among the age group is such a problem.

The Department of Health has distanced itself from the Chlamydia testing scheme, with their spokesperson saying, “We do not support offering alcohol as an incentive to test for STIs.”