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Law students drinking less, report finds
Despite being consistently ranked high for alcohol misuse, a recent report from the United States has revealed a promising trend that fewer law students are reporting an increase in alcohol consumption.
Grace Robbie
A recent survey by Bloomberg Law has uncovered a positive trend in law students’ drinking habits, revealing a decrease in the number of students reporting increased alcohol consumption during their studies.
The Path to Practice survey, which gathered responses from 546 law students across the United States, posed the question: “Since starting law school, have you experienced increased alcohol usage because of law school-related issues?”
The survey discovered that, in 2024, only 14 per cent of law students reported an increase in alcohol consumption since beginning their studies, a notable decrease from 23 per cent of law students agreeing with this statement in 2022.
The results also highlighted some interesting trends when the data was broken down by law school year. For first-year law students, the rate of increased alcohol consumption has remained consistent, ranging from 15 to 17 per cent over the past few years.
However, a distinct difference emerged between second-year and third-law students, with a noticeable decline in the number of students reporting increased alcohol consumption as they advanced through their studies.
Historically, law students have been known to experience high levels of stress and academic pressure, with many resorting to alcohol as a coping mechanism. However, the recent findings from Bloomberg Law suggest a shift towards healthier coping strategies among law students.
The report attributes this change to an increase in discussions surrounding alcohol use within the legal profession, noting that such conversations have become more prevalent in recent years compared to 10 to 20 years ago.
The broader impact of alcohol misuse on students’ mental and physical health has been a significant concern over the years.
A study published in late 2022 by Ulster University and Atlantic Technological University in Ireland highlighted the troubling relationship between alcohol abuse among law students, with 16.1 per cent reported having alcohol-related issues over a 12-month period.
Additionally, the study revealed a higher prevalence of mental health concerns among law students, including depression (17.4 per cent), panic disorder (10.6 per cent), social anxiety (31.7 per cent), and ADHD (32.1 per cent).
In a previous conversation with Lawyers Weekly, senior psychologist Linda Williams and a Law Society of NSW spokesperson emphasised the importance of law students “focus[ing] on what they can control right now” rather than resorting to alcohol as a means of coping with the stresses of their studies.
