London university to ban alcohol because students say it’s ‘immoral’

Source: London Evening Standard
12 April 2012

'Cultural mix': London Metropolitan University, north London Holloway Road campus

A London university could ban the sale of alcohol from parts of its campus because some students consider it to be “immoral”.

Malcolm Gillies, vice chancellor of London Metropolitan University, said he was considering the move because a “high percentage” of his students see alcohol as “negative”.

About 20 per cent of students at London Met are Muslim, and of those the majority are women.

Speaking at the Association of University Administrators’ annual conference, Professor Gillies said he was “not a great fan of alcohol on campus” and added that the issue was one of “cultural sensitivity”.

He said of alcohol: “It’s a negative experience — in fact an immoral experience — for a high percentage of our students.” Speaking to the Standard he said he was considering replacing one of the bars on campus with a coffee shop.

Professor Gillies, who does drink, said: “Our university has one of the richest cultural mixes in Britain. Many of our students come from families that are not heavy drinkers.”

Source: London Evening Standard